- Market cross
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An elaborate market cross in Malmesbury
A market cross is a structure used to mark a market square in market towns, 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 most market towns in Britain, with those in Scotland known as "mercat crosses". British emigrants often installed such crosses in their new cities and several can be found in Canada and Australia. These structures range from carved stone spires, obelisks or crosses, common to small market towns, such as that in Stalbridge, Dorset, to large, ornate covered structures, such as the Chichester Cross in Chichester, West Sussex. Market Crosses can also be constructed from wood, for example Wymondham, Norfolk has a market cross that dates back to the 13th century and rebuilt in 1617-18 that is made out of timber (See gallery below).
Contents
Towns and Villages in Great Britain with a Market Cross
A
B
C
D
E
G
H
K
- Keighley
- Kirkby in Ashfield
- Kirkby Lonsdale
- Kirkby Malzeard
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
- Saffron Walden
- Salisbury
- Selby
- Shap
- Shepton Mallet
- Somerton
- St Albans
- Stow-on-the-Wold
- Sturminster Newton
- Swaffham
- Swinton (Berwickshire)
W
External links
Photographs
See also
- Mercat cross
- Crucifix
- Tottenham High Cross
- Eleanor cross
- High cross
- Intending cross
- Celtic cross
- Glasgow Cross
Categories:- Market towns
- Monument types
- Cross symbols
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