Ringworks

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I'm sorry, but I find it hard to take anyone seriously that calls them <i>Celtic Crosses of Britain and Ireland</i> :-)

The term high crosses only applies to the large ornately carved ones erected between 800 & 1200 ce. Wayside crosses that mark the highways are not in the same league and are much later. The high crosses are situated within monastic settlements and not by roads.

The book is fairly old and I too am allergic to the word "Celtic". I disagree about high crosses only being associated with monasteries. At least one of the Eleanor Crosses is referred to as a high cross - Tottenham High Cross. Like other terms on this thread, quite specific terms soon come to be used in a more general imprecise way. I do still support the concept of high crosses being those raised on high -(ie free standing) and being the distinguishing factor from those carved on stone slabs -ie not fee standing.