Market Cross

The Market Cross, established around 1500, was completely rebuilt in 1841 by G.P. Manners. It is constructed from dressed Doulting stone and is designed in the Perpendicular style. The structure features an octagonal open arcade with a spirelet that rises from a central bench pier. At the top, there is a three-stage pinnacled spire adorned with canopied niches that have cinquefoil heads, with foliation decoration in the spandrel spaces above the canopies. The spire is supported by a massive central hexagonal pier, surrounded by an open arcade consisting of six segmental arches on pillars. The top of the cross is encircled by an open quatrefoil parapet, with crocketed pinnacles at each corner and above the center of each arch. The entire cross stands on a cobbled plinth, with a masonry bench in three stages around the central pier. A plaque, approximately 100mm by 700mm, is attached to the central pier and bears an inscription in four lines stating that the cross was set up in 1500 by Walter Buckland and his wife Agnes.