Location of the Chichester Cross within West Sussex
Chichester Cross, in a c. 1831 illustration.
According to the inscription upon it, this cross was built by Edward Story, Bishop of Chichester from 1477 to 1503, but little is known for certain and the style and ornaments of the building suggest that it may date from the reign of Edward IV. It was built so that the poor people should have somewhere to sell their wares, and as a meeting point. An earlier wooden cross had been erected on the same site by Bishop William Reade (1369–1385). The stone cross was repaired during the reign of Charles II, and at the expense of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond in 1746, and stands to this day.[2]
The Market Cross is constructed of Caen stone, one of the most favoured building materials of the age. The cross's form is octangular, having a strong butment at each angle, surmounted with pinnacles. On each of its faces is an entrance through a pointed arch, ornamented with crockets and a finial. Above this, on four of its sides, is a tablet, to commemorate its reparation in the reign of Charles II. Above each tablet is a dial, exhibiting the hour to each of the three principal streets; the fourth being excluded from this advantage by standing at an angle. In the centre is a large circular column, the basement of which forms a seat: into this column is inserted a number of groinings, which, spreading from the centre, form the roof beautifully moulded. The central column appears to continue through the roof, and is supported without by eight flying buttresses, which rest on the several corners of the building. Malmesbury Market Cross in Wiltshire is the other surviving late medieval covered English market cross with a similar form, but rather smaller and simpler.[3]
Until the start of the nineteenth century the Cross was used as a market-place; but the increased population of the city requiring a more extensive area for that purpose, a large and convenient market-house was, about the year 1807, erected in the North-street; on the completion of which, it was proposed to take down this Cross, then considered as a nuisance. This was prevented from taking place when some of the members of the corporation purchased several houses on the north side of the Cross in order to widen that part of the street by their demolition.[4][2]
A bust of King Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur was added to the cross in the 1660s.[5] The bust was removed in the 1970s after which it was replaced by a glass fibre replica. [6] In 2019 it was loaned to The Novium museum.[7]
^"Chichester's Cross is still standing". Chichester Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
^"King Charles I Bust". .thenovium.org. Novium Museum. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
^Rogan, Amanda (6 December 2019). "Changing Times : The history of the Charles I Bust artefact". Chichester Post. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
^Stack, Joe (12 November 2019). "Chichester celebrates the homecoming of Market Cross sculpture". Sussex World. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
August 26, 2023
chichester, cross, elaborate, perpendicular, market, cross, centre, city, chichester, west, sussex, standing, intersection, four, principal, streets, grade, listed, building, 2011locationchichester, west, sussex, englandcoordinates50, 83667, 77917, 83667, 7791. Chichester Cross is an elaborate Perpendicular market cross in the centre of the city of Chichester West Sussex standing at the intersection of the four principal streets It is a Grade I listed building 1 Chichester CrossChichester Cross in May 2011LocationChichester West Sussex EnglandCoordinates50 50 12 N 0 46 45 W 50 83667 N 0 77917 W 50 83667 0 77917Builtc 1477 to 1503Built forEdward StoryRestored1746Restored byCharles Lennox 2nd Duke of RichmondGoverning bodyHistoric EnglandOwnerChichester District CouncilListed Building Grade IDesignated5 July 1950 73 years ago 1950 07 05 Location of the Chichester Cross within West SussexChichester Cross in a c 1831 illustration According to the inscription upon it this cross was built by Edward Story Bishop of Chichester from 1477 to 1503 but little is known for certain and the style and ornaments of the building suggest that it may date from the reign of Edward IV It was built so that the poor people should have somewhere to sell their wares and as a meeting point An earlier wooden cross had been erected on the same site by Bishop William Reade 1369 1385 The stone cross was repaired during the reign of Charles II and at the expense of Charles Lennox 2nd Duke of Richmond in 1746 and stands to this day 2 The Market Cross is constructed of Caen stone one of the most favoured building materials of the age The cross s form is octangular having a strong butment at each angle surmounted with pinnacles On each of its faces is an entrance through a pointed arch ornamented with crockets and a finial Above this on four of its sides is a tablet to commemorate its reparation in the reign of Charles II Above each tablet is a dial exhibiting the hour to each of the three principal streets the fourth being excluded from this advantage by standing at an angle In the centre is a large circular column the basement of which forms a seat into this column is inserted a number of groinings which spreading from the centre form the roof beautifully moulded The central column appears to continue through the roof and is supported without by eight flying buttresses which rest on the several corners of the building Malmesbury Market Cross in Wiltshire is the other surviving late medieval covered English market cross with a similar form but rather smaller and simpler 3 Until the start of the nineteenth century the Cross was used as a market place but the increased population of the city requiring a more extensive area for that purpose a large and convenient market house was about the year 1807 erected in the North street on the completion of which it was proposed to take down this Cross then considered as a nuisance This was prevented from taking place when some of the members of the corporation purchased several houses on the north side of the Cross in order to widen that part of the street by their demolition 4 2 A bust of King Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur was added to the cross in the 1660s 5 The bust was removed in the 1970s after which it was replaced by a glass fibre replica 6 In 2019 it was loaned to The Novium museum 7 References Edit Historic England Market Cross Chichester Grade I 1026826 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 15 July 2020 a b The Chichester Cross Vol 17 The Mirror of Literature Amusement and Instruction No 470 8 January 1831 Historic England The Cross Market Cross Malmesbury Grade I 1269291 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 15 July 2020 Chichester s Cross is still standing Chichester Observer Retrieved 15 July 2020 King Charles I Bust thenovium org Novium Museum Retrieved 2 December 2022 Rogan Amanda 6 December 2019 Changing Times The history of the Charles I Bust artefact Chichester Post Retrieved 2 December 2022 Stack Joe 12 November 2019 Chichester celebrates the homecoming of Market Cross sculpture Sussex World Retrieved 2 December 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chichester Cross amp oldid 1171958840, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
