Sotonopedia

Cut-thorn Cross
One of the town's traditional boundary crosses situated to the north of the Common, and immediately adjacent to the Cut-thorn mound. This cross no longer survives, and only the site is marked on the 1846 Town Map. It has not been found on earlier maps, although it is referred to in the Town's Charters.

Cut-thorn Mound
This feature is situated near the mid-point of the north side of the Common on the town’s traditional boundary. Cut-thorn mound was the traditional meeting place of the Court Leet. A rectangular mound, with shallow ditch, it appears to be of Iron Age origin and was probably a moot place of great antiquity, though not necessarily of the town. It could conceivably represent the shire-moot which gave Shirley its name and also the Thunres-leg of the Millbrook land charters of 956 and 1045. The cut-thorn was a thorn tree distinguished by a blaze.

Cut-thorn Mound

Photograph, 1941

See also:

• Crosses: Boundary and Others

Further reading:

Southampton Occasional Notes 2nd series, by ‘Townsman’, p41. (HS/h)

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