Treasured possession: Derry Penal Cross to appear on BBC hit show Antiques Roadshow

A treasured possession belonging to one Derry family is set to bring the story of Britain’s repressive Penal Laws to our television screens, when Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC 1, this Sunday - St Patrick's Day.

Enacted in Ireland in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the Penal Laws, among other things, forbade the practising of the Catholic faith.

One Sunday morning last year, Catherine Hutton (neé Karran) attended a recording of BBC One’s popular Sunday evening entertainment, Antiques Roadshow, filmed in Ebrington Square.

Catherine brought along a hand carved Penal Cross, dating back to 1716, which originally belonged to her mother, Mary.
Mary lived in the Carnhill area of the city and Catherine said the Cross had been in her mother’s family “as long as anyone could remember”.

“It came down through my mammy’s family, on her mammy’s side. It was always there when we were younger.

“About 10 years ago, we actually took the Cross to the Tower Museum and they asked us if they could display it, so it has been on display there for the best part of 10 years. It was the oldest Penal Cross they had.

“I don’t know how the Cross came into our family but what I do know about Penal Crosses is that they originated in Lough Derg, St Patrick’s Purgatory, in South Donegal.

“From what I can gather, it is similar to when people go to Knock these days and by religious souvenirs, Penal Crosses were hand carved for pilgrims visiting Lough Derg.

“The reason for their distinctive shape, the horizontal part of the Cross being narrow, was because people had to hide them in their robes or up their sleeves because, obviously, in those days they weren’t allowed to carry anything that was representative of the Catholic faith.”

Catherine, who described the Penal Cross as being about a foot high, said she had been really excited to be involved in the Derry episode of Antiques Roadshow.

“A wee while ago, I saw them advertising they were going to be here. I love the show, so I applied,” she said. “If you want an item valued, they ask you to include a photograph, which I did, even though there is no way I would ever part with the Cross.

“They came back to me two weeks ago and said I had been invited to the recording on Sunday at 9.00am. Other people got emails saying they had been allowed to come and spectate. I was quite excited about the experience.

“I think it is great that the show will include an artifact of such local significance when it airs.

“I know that my mother’s family has done a wee bit of research into our background and our history. And I know that my Mammy’s family come from around the Ramelton/Fanad area, maybe down near Dungloe, so that’s all very in keeping with people going on pilgrimage to Lough Derg, that’s South Donegal.”

Speaking to Derry Now on her return from the Antiques Roadshow in Ebrington yesterday, Cathy said she was "still coming down from the excitement".

"What an amazing experience,” she said. "The expert was Lennox Cato He valued our Penal Cross at between £600 and £800.

"He was so interested in the history of the Cross and what it represents.

"He talked about the struggle of Irish Catholics to practice their faith during penal times.

"I told him about where it originated from - Lough Derg.

"He talked about the symbols on the cross, such as the spear, which was used to pierce the side of Jesus; the ladder to heaven; the carving of the face and feet.

"He said it was carved from pine or fir, hewn from a single block of wood and the fact that it has been on display in the tower museum was important and its significance to the history of Derry and Donegal."