Market cross

A market cross, or in Scots, a mercat cross, is a structure used to mark a market square in market towns, where historically the right to hold a regular market or fair was granted by the monarch, a bishop or a baron.

History

Market crosses were originally from the distinctive tradition in Early Medieval Insular art of free-standing stone standing or high crosses, often elaborately carved, which goes back to the 7th century. Market crosses can be found in many market towns in Britain.^[1] British emigrants often installed such crosses in their new cities, and several can be found in Canada and Australia.^[2]

The market cross could be representing the official site for a medieval town or village market, granted by a charter, or it could have once represented a traditional religious marking at a crossroads.^[2]

Design

These structures range from carved stone spires, obelisks or crosses, common to small market towns such as that in Stalbridge, Dorset,^[3] to large, ornate covered structures, such as the Chichester Cross,^[4] or Malmesbury Market Cross.^[5] They can also be constructed from wood; an example is at Wymondham, Norfolk.^[6]

Towns and villages in the British isles with a market cross

A

Aberdeen^[7]
Aberford^[8]
Abbots Bromley^[9]
Aldbourne^[10]
Alfriston^[11]
Alnwick^[12]
Alston^[13]
Ambleside^[14]
Ashbourne^[15]
Austwick (Base and pillar remaining)^[16]
Askrigg^[17]
Austwick^[18]
Aylburton^[19]

B

Banbury^[20]
Barnard Castle^[21]
Barrow upon Humber^[22]
Bawtry^[23]^[24]
Bedale^[25]
Belford^[26]
Beverley^[27]
Billesdon (x2)^[28]^[29]
Bingham^[30]
Bingley^[31]
Binham^[32]
Bishops Lydeard^[33]
Bodenham^[34]
Bonsall^[35]
Boroughbridge^[36]
Bottesford, Leicestershire^[37]
Bourton, Vale of White Horse^[38]
Bovey Tracey^[39]
Brandesburton^[40]
Brigstock^[41]
Bromborough^[42]
Brough (Original block and socket remaining)^[43]
Buckingham^[44]
Bungay^[45]
Burnley^[46]
Bedlington^[47]
Bury St. Edmunds^[48]
Burton-in-Kendal^[49]
Buxton^[50]

C

D

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Frome

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H

I

K

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M

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O

P

Q

Quainton^[161]

R

S

T

U

Uttoxeter^[189]

W

Notes

^ This monument, a replacement for a market cross, was demolished in January 2019.

References

^ Green, Edward (2019). "Stone crosses". buildingconservation.com. Building Conservation. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
^ "Butter cross". seiyaku.com. Seiyaku. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
^ "Market Cross, Stalbridge, Dorset". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
^ Harwood, Amanda (2021). "Chichester's market cross". thenovium.org. The Novium Museum. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
^ "Malmesbury market cross". athelstanmuseum.org.uk. Athelstan Museum Malmesbury. 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
^ "Record details 9446". heritage.norfolk.gov.uk. Norfolk Heritage Explorer. 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
^ "Aberdeen, Castle Street, Market Cross". canmore.org.uk. Canmore. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
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^ "Monument record MDR12718 - The Market Place, Ashbourne". her.derbyshire.gove.uk. Derbyshire Historic Environment Record. Retrieved 18 February 2021. Ashbourne had a market cross up to 1790. It now has a 19th century monument known as the market cross, dedicated to industrialist Frederick Wright.
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^ This is a grand Victorian replacement on the site of an earlier cross.
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^ These two listings appear to refer to the same market cross
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^ Billesdon has two market crosses
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^ Re-erected at Old Market Hall 1984
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^ The stump of the market cross is close to the war memorial column
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^ Base 1278, top 1874 Gilbert Scott
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^ Square base and shaft remaining
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^ These two listings appear to refer to the same market cross
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^ Also known as the market cross
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^ NHLE has two separate records for the same Chichester market cross
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^ The 19th century one
^ The one with the (probable) Roman shaft
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^ "Culross market cross". canmore.org.uk. Canmore. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
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^ "History piece - What's the story behind Cumnock's ancient Market Cross?". 9 May 2021.
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^ Myddleton House gardens are normally open to the public in daytime.
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^ This appears to be two listing numbers for a single market cross
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^ Stump. Remains of head now in Guildhall, according to listing
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^ Steps only remaining
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^ The Leighton-Linslade and Leighton Buzzard listings appear to refer to the same monument
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^ Pembroke preaching and market crosses, Wales
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^ Main Street Rutherglen, Mercat Cross | LB33558, Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
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^ This single market cross has two listings
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^ Base with steps and pedestal
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^ As of 2020 this monument was still inside the Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage.
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^ Williton has (or had) two market crosses and a churchyard cross.
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Market cross

History

Design

Towns and villages in the British isles with a market cross

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

W

See also

Notes

References

Connections

Linked from (186 total)

Links to (224 total)