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Four Crosses Burial Chamber is in Cromlech Farm, Four Crosses, Prehistoric Wales Neolithic Burials.
Archaeologia Cambrensis 1844 Pages 129-144. Another instance of the kind occurs at Four Crosses in Carnarvonshire [Four Crosses Burial Chamber [Map]], not far from Pwllheli, where a farm is called "Cromlech Farm",1 and has always been known by that name from time immemorial. Such at least was the statement of a gentleman whose estate is near, and who had long resided on it. It has been described and figured in the Archæologia Cambrensis. It is true that in that locality is not to be found such a number of these monuments as in Pembrokeshire; but there are, nevertheless, many at no great distance; so that the names "Cromlech" and "Parc y Cromlech", thus denoting parcels of land, are to some extent of interest. The dates; however, of such names being given may possibly be partially ascertained by the title-deeds. This cromlech, that gives its name to a field, is described in the official report of the Meeting as partaking more of the "nature of a very large cistvaen than any others, as the capstone, which lies east and west, rests on the supports laid lengthwise, and not upright." As there seems to be no real difference between the cromlech and kistvaen, the unusual position of the supporter is probably due to the materials at hand; but the fact is, these supporters in this case, although very small, are upright, the spaces between them being filled up with horizontal slabs. This monument may, perhaps, be that called "Gillach Goch", described by Fenton as follows: "There is one more remarkable than the rest, a large, unshapen mass of serpentine, 15 by 8, and 2½ thick. Under the edges of it are placed nine or ten small stones embedded in a strong pavement extending some way round. These small supporters are seemingly fixed without any regard to the height, as only two or three bear the whole weight of the incumbent stone." It has been noticed in the Archceologia Cayiibrensis, vol. 1872, p. 138. It is of unusual character in having its capstone supported on a row of low stones, so that none but a very slender man could insinuate himself underneath. The capstone is nearly 14 feet long, 8 wide, and 2 thick; not very different from Fenton's measurement. Those given in the report are: length, 13 feet by 7 feet, lying east and west; "that on the south side being 10 feet long by 3 feet 6 inches above the ground." The more usual position of the capstone is north and south. But there is a slight ambiguity in the description, as "that on the south side" may mean a separate capstone, or part of the one measuring 13 feet by 7 feet. It is, however, possible that the cromlech called "Gilfach Goch" is not the one alluded to in the report, although answering in some respects.
Note 1. Arch. Camb., 1869, p. 138.
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Archaeologia Cambrensis 1869 Page 118-147 Cromlechs in North Wales. Close to the village of Fourcrosses, near Pwllheli, is a cromlech [Four Crosses Burial Chamber [Map]] which is remarkable for giving the name of "Cromlech" to the farm on which it stands. Inquiry has been made of gentlemen who have been for many years acquainted with the locality, and the result is the information that from time immemorial the farm has never been called by any other name but its present one of Cromlech. Now, as is well known, there has existed, and still does exist, much doubt concerning the real origin of the name. Rowlands, in his Mona Antiqua (p. 47), says "these altars were, and are to this day, vulgarly called by the name of cromlech." He gives two reasons for the name, one of which is that it is a mere description of an inclined stone, crom and llech; but as some of the capstones of cromlechs are not so inclined, Rowlands seems to prefer the second explanation, namely that the name was, like many other names, imported from Babel, and was originally cceremlech, that is, a devoted stone or altar! If Rowlands's statement, that these monuments were ordinarily known as cromlechs in his time, is correct, it is very curious that the name should have been lost, as a general rule, among the common people. That it was, however, a correct statement seems to be confirmed by the name being given to a farm at a period beyond memory. No assistance is likely to be rendered by any old deeds connected with the property, which was once an outlying portion of the Corsygedol estates.