Chester High Cross

Coordinates: 53°11′25″N 2°53′30″W / 53.190290°N 2.891635°W / 53.190290; -2.891635

Chester High Cross
Chester High Cross standing at the junction of streets known as Chester Cross
Location:	Chester Cross, Chester, Cheshire, England
OS grid reference:	SJ 405 662
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: Chester High Cross
Designated:	28 July 1955
Reference #:	1376246
Location in Cheshire

Chester High Cross is in Chester, Cheshire, England. It stands in front of St Peter's Church at the junction of Watergate Street, Eastgate Street and Bridge Street, a site known as Chester Cross. The cross is a Grade II listed building.^[1]

History

The original cross dated from the 14th century.^[1] This cross was replaced by a new one in 1476. It consisted of an octagonal pillar surmounted by a carved head and a crucifix on its top. The cross was gilded in 1603.^[2] It was damaged and broken up by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War in 1646. The head was saved and kept in the grounds of Sir John Cotgreave at Nesterleigh.^[3] The head and another possible fragments were rediscovered in the 19th century. They were used in a restoration of the cross which was erected near the Newgate in 1949. In 1975 the cross was moved to its present site, near to its original position.^[1]

Structure

The cross is constructed in red sandstone. It consists of a crown surmounted by a finial with a ball on its top. It stands on a shaft on a plinth below which are three steps. The head is hexagonal, while the shaft, steps and plinth are octagonal. The head, and possibly the moulded base of the shaft, date from the 14th century; the rest of the structure is modern. The head is badly weathered; niches which formerly contained statues are on each side, but two of these have been weathered away.^[1]

Today

Chester town crier on the cross

Chester High Cross stands at the centre of the city of Chester and is a popular meeting point. During the summer months Chester's town crier makes a midday proclamation from its steps.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Chester High Cross", The National Heritage List for England (English Heritage), 2011, http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1376246, retrieved 3 May 2011 
2. ^ Thacker, A. T.; Lewis, C. P. (eds.) (2005), Local government and public services: Municipal buildings, A History of the County of Chester: The City of Chester: Culture, Buildings, Institutions, 5, Part 2, pp. 15–20, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=57302&strquery=high%20cross, retrieved 11 August 2009 
3. ^ Pastscape: Chester High Cross, English Heritage, http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=69180, retrieved 15 July 2009 
4. ^ Chester Cross Proclamation, Chester Town Criers, http://www.chestertowncriers.com/cross.html, retrieved 15 July 2009