CAPT. T.H.SNEYD
Location address: St Edwards Church, Hollow Lane, Cheddleton, Staffordshire, ST13 7HP
Details on cross :
IN
MEMORY OF
CAPT. T.H.SNEYD
KILLED IN ACTION
2-11-1914
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): Painted, mounted to wooden cross with single screw
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 790mm
Cross beam width: 465mm
Width of wood: 85mm
Thickness or depth: 50mm
Circle plate (if celtic type)
Outer diameter: 1000mm
Width of circle: 310mm
Thickness: 15mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Set into sandstone block with a sandstone surround which has a memorial also to T H Sneyd on top (see pictures)
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): some possible evidence of insertion into the earth but difficult to tell due to it being set into the surround.
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): painted white but extremely faded and cracking, no evidence of any varnishes
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Wood cracked and splitting with paint peeling off the finish.
Plate with text on may have been restored recently due to condition difference between cross and name plate.
Notes and observations: (optional)
Thomas Humphrey Sneyd was 31 when he died. He is buried at Messines Ridge British Cemetery in Belgium and his headstone has the inscription ‘the Lord bless thee and keep the and give thee life everlasting’.
The cross also has a second memorial to Captain Sneyd and explains the cross was brought back by his men. It also details his original burial place of Ploegsteert. It also details that he was the only son of Major General Sneyd of Ashcombe Park, Cheddleton (see picture). Ashcombe Park land would have bordered the church where this memorial is situated.
Located outside the Church in an alcove on the east side of Church.
Stands upon another memorial stone that doesn’t appear to have any relation to the marker itself (see picture)
The Church has a children’s trail in which the cross is featured which is how I managed to find this cross.
T H Sneyd is also featured on the lynch gate memorial of the Church.
Survey and Photographs courtesy of: Laura Croft
Date of survey: August/September 2017