Godley Cross on the Bridle Path, Heathcote Valley

When researching Heathcote streets I came across several mentions of The Godley Cross and I found a page with a reasonable amount of information plus an image of the first cross. I also looked at Papers Past. Various articles mention that there had been at least four crosses erected but all were subject to vandalism. The original was erected in either 1856 or 1857. Interesting that this article says that Chaney carved the first cross. He possibly did but the only mention of him carving the cross is in 1864 when he carved a white stone Celtic cross to replace the original cross. There was another replacement cross in 1898 and in 1899 a fence was placed around the cross. Mentioned in 1909,1931 and 1932 with discussion about the vandalism and if it was worth replacing. In 1932 only the pedestal was remaining and this was repaired. A fountain at the same spot was also frequently mentioned but it was decided not to replace it as the water was contaminated by sheep and dogs. I am now going to have to walk the Bridle Path to see if I can figure out where this cross was.

I did walk the Heathcote side of the Bridle Path yesterday and took several photos. On a noticeboard at the start of the walk it is mentioned as being a memorial to women. I reread the information on Papers Past and nowhere is it mentioned as a memorial to pioneer women. It was a way marker to show where the fountain at spring was plus Charlotte Godley said it was for all the early pioneers and she was grateful for the spring. It was also partly a memorial to her husband. By this time she was back in England. I have walked the Bridle Path hundreds of times and I haven’t really considered the history of this monument. I was amused by the younger woman who stopped me to say hello and then tell me that it is a very hard walk and that I probably shouldn’t do it. She told me that she had also stopped an older man who was 80 years of age and told him that he shouldn’t be doing the walk. Note it was the first time that this young woman had walked the Bridle Path. This 71 year old did have a chuckle about the encounter and yes I got to the top and back again without any problems. I was obviously looking old yesterday.