Malmesbury Market Cross is a Grade I listed, late 15th century structure in the town of Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England.
The Market Cross
View through one of the two doorway arches, showing the central bench and two benched arches
Description
The market cross stands in the centre of the town, at the north end of the High Street. It was built c.1490,[1] possibly using limestone salvaged from the recently ruined part of Malmesbury Abbey, which then began just across the market square from the cross. An elaborately carved octagonal structure of the Perpendicular Period, it is recognised as one of the best preserved of its kind in England, and was made a Grade I listed building in 1949.[2] A carving in relief of the Crucifixion and figures of several saints have survived the Reformation on the open lantern, although the lower niches for figures are now empty. Inside there is a lierne vaulted roof with carved bosses, springing from a central column with stone seating around it.[2] There is a low wall or bench across all the outside arches except two. The building is over 40 ft. high,[3] and today is nicknamed "the Birdcage", because of its appearance, and still serves to shelter market traders by day and as a meeting point at night.[4]
It was described by John Leland, who visited Malmesbury in 1542, as follows:[5][6][7]
Malmesbyri hath a good quik [lively] market kept every Saturday. There is a right fair and costeley peace of worke in the market place made all of stone and curiusly voultid for poore market folkes to stande dry when rayne cummith. Ther be 8 great pillers and 8 open arches: and the work is 8 square: one great piller in the midle berith up the voulte. The men of the toun made this peace of work in hominum memoria [within living memory].
An even more elaborate covered market cross in a similar style is the Chichester Cross; Ipswich once had another, in a lighter Renaissance style, but this survives only in old prints.[10]
References
^Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (1881), The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, vol. 19, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, p. 147, ISSN 0084-0335, OCLC 1745018 English Heritage say "Late C15/early C16"
^Robert Andrews (2004), Rough Guide to England, Rough Guides, p. 380, ISBN9781843532491
^Toulmin Smith, Lucy, ed. (1907). The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535–1543. Vol. 1. London: George Bell. p. 132.
^ ab"Malmesbury Market Cross". Athelstan Museum. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
^Sears, Robert (1847), A New and Popular Pictorial Description of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the British Islands, R. Sears, p. 167, OCLC 478853
^Morris, William, Art and Architecture: Essays 1870–1884, 2003, ISBN1592240364 (that section reprinted from the SPAB's 3rd Annual Report, printed in The Times in 1880.), google books
^Rimmer, Alfred (1997) [1875], Ancient Stone Crosses of England (reprint ed.), Kessinger Publishing, pp. 60–65 (also see preceding pages for Malmesbury), ISBN9781564598172
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January 03, 2023
malmesbury, market, cross, coordinates, 58385, 09806, 58385, 09806, grade, listed, late, 15th, century, structure, town, malmesbury, wiltshire, england, market, cross, view, through, doorway, arches, showing, central, bench, benched, archesdescription, editthe. Coordinates 51 35 02 N 2 05 53 W 51 58385 N 2 09806 W 51 58385 2 09806 Malmesbury Market Cross is a Grade I listed late 15th century structure in the town of Malmesbury Wiltshire England The Market Cross View through one of the two doorway arches showing the central bench and two benched archesDescription EditThe market cross stands in the centre of the town at the north end of the High Street It was built c 1490 1 possibly using limestone salvaged from the recently ruined part of Malmesbury Abbey which then began just across the market square from the cross An elaborately carved octagonal structure of the Perpendicular Period it is recognised as one of the best preserved of its kind in England and was made a Grade I listed building in 1949 2 A carving in relief of the Crucifixion and figures of several saints have survived the Reformation on the open lantern although the lower niches for figures are now empty Inside there is a lierne vaulted roof with carved bosses springing from a central column with stone seating around it 2 There is a low wall or bench across all the outside arches except two The building is over 40 ft high 3 and today is nicknamed the Birdcage because of its appearance and still serves to shelter market traders by day and as a meeting point at night 4 It was described by John Leland who visited Malmesbury in 1542 as follows 5 6 7 Malmesbyri hath a good quik lively market kept every Saturday There is a right fair and costeley peace of worke in the market place made all of stone and curiusly voultid for poore market folkes to stande dry when rayne cummith Ther be 8 great pillers and 8 open arches and the work is 8 square one great piller in the midle berith up the voulte The men of the toun made this peace of work in hominum memoria within living memory The cross was renovated in about 1800 at the expense of John Howard 15th Earl of Suffolk 8 and subsequently repaired in 1909 12 and 1949 50 2 In 1879 80 the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in its third year of existence sent two council members who drew up a report of the repairs needed for Lord Northwick who owned the cross but it is not clear what was done 9 One pinnacle knocked off by a heavy goods vehicle in recent years is in the Athelstan Museum in the town 6 Related structures EditAn even more elaborate covered market cross in a similar style is the Chichester Cross Ipswich once had another in a lighter Renaissance style but this survives only in old prints 10 References Edit Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 1881 The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine vol 19 Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society p 147 ISSN 0084 0335 OCLC 1745018 English Heritage say Late C15 early C16 a b c Historic England The Cross Market Cross Malmesbury Grade I 1269291 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 28 June 2012 Norwich John Julius 1985 The architecture of southern England Macmillan London p 668 ISBN 9780333220375 Robert Andrews 2004 Rough Guide to England Rough Guides p 380 ISBN 9781843532491 Toulmin Smith Lucy ed 1907 The Itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535 1543 Vol 1 London George Bell p 132 a b Malmesbury Market Cross Athelstan Museum 1 June 2012 Retrieved 29 June 2012 Sears Robert 1847 A New and Popular Pictorial Description of England Scotland Ireland Wales and the British Islands R Sears p 167 OCLC 478853 and Lady Northwick according to Rimmer Morris William Art and Architecture Essays 1870 1884 2003 ISBN 1592240364 that section reprinted from the SPAB s 3rd Annual Report printed in The Times in 1880 google books Rimmer Alfred 1997 1875 Ancient Stone Crosses of England reprint ed Kessinger Publishing pp 60 65 also see preceding pages for Malmesbury ISBN 9781564598172 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Malmesbury Market Cross Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malmesbury Market Cross amp oldid 1087448416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
