by hvered » 7:05 am
This style of cross construction ended in the eleventh century, presumably replaced by mechanical clocks that were being installed in high towers.
As Wiki puts it, "These mechanical clocks were intended for two main purposes: for signalling and notification (e.g. the timing of services and public events), and for modeling the solar system. The former purpose is administrative, the latter arises naturally given the scholarly interests in astronomy, science, astrology, and how these subjects integrated with the religious philosophy of the time. "
'High cross' is perhaps preferable, an indirect nod at least to the older system of standing stones. It's unrealistic to expect medieval drovers to climb up hills to take bearings, any more than Megalithic drovers would.