Places with a historic market cross to bear (From Gazette & Herald)

Places with a historic market cross to bear

NEWS that Bedale's ancient market cross might have to be transferred to a new site may sound alarming, but the proposal is by no means unique.

Since the motor vehicle began to dominate town centres throughout England, several historic market crosses have either been moved to new locations or destroyed on the grounds that they had become obstructions to traffic. That's the price of progress.

In spite of those changes, many remain in the market towns of our region, with Bedale's being particularly prominent at the junction of Emgate with the market place.

It is a tall slender column of stone with a cross on the top, and it rises from the centre of tiers of stone steps.

It is probably some 600-years-old. There may be others of similar design throughout the north, although many have suffered the ravages of time and weather to the extent that they are almost unrecognisable as crosses.

The idea of erecting a cross in the market place stems from medieval times when they were thought to impress upon the traders and their customers that honesty was expected in all their dealings.

The crosses were copies of those found in most churchyards and in some cases, the local priest would say Mass at the cross or perhaps conduct prayers at the commencement of trading.

That was his way of ringing the necessary solemnity to the proceedings.

It followed that other people used the market cross as a focal point, arranging meetings there for a variety of reasons.

I am sure many romances were kindled through meetings there.

Rent collectors would also position themselves nearby at specified times to collect monies from tenants, and in Ripon's case, the election of the mayor took place at the market cross.

In other towns, mystery places were held in front of the cross and in Chester it was the custom for civic events to occur there.

In the larger markets, there may be several crosses, each indicating that particular goods were sold from that point.

From this custom there developed the cheese cross, the fish cross, the butter cross, the poultry cross and the pig cross.

In Worcester, for example, there was the curiously named grass cross which is where labourers gathered as they waited for someone to hire them. I do not know how it acquired such a peculiar name.

The next stage in the development of market crosses occurred due to the unpredictability of English weather.

It made sense to erect some kind of roof around the cross so that stallholders and customers were shielded from rain, snow and wind.

By the 15th century, the major cities of Britain boasted extremely elaborate market crosses because each town or city wanted the best or most spectacular.

The cross was eventually replaced by a tall tower, and the roofs were expanded so that market crosses began to look like town halls or churches.

In spite of this, they continued to be known as crosses. There is a fine example at Beverley in the East Riding where pillars support a cupola roof and the whole is adorned with stone urns, the royal arms of France and England, and the town's arms of a beaver over a lake.

Barnard Castle can offer another superb example in its Butter Market.

Started in 1747 by a man called Thomas Breaks, the town's market cross is an octagonal building shaped like a giant lantern, and it once contained the gaol as well as a covered market and council chamber, its upper room being added in 1814.

It is surrounded by pillars supporting a roof which forms a type of skirt around the structure, the pillars being of different heights due to the slope of the land upon which it stands.

It is positioned at the junction of three streets but I have not heard that it is likely to be removed due to traffic problems!

There have been complaints about it, however; early critics said it blocked out the light and obstructed free currents of air and just over a century ago, there was a move to demolish it.

Close inspection of the weather vane will reveal two bullet holes which have been there since 1804.

They are the result of a shooting contest between a volunteer soldier called Taylor and a gamekeeper for the Earl of trathmore called Cruddas.

After a few drinks in the Turks Head, they challenged one another to a shooting contest, each firing at the vane from a distance of a hundred yards. Both hit it and this ended their competitiveness.

With the development of market crosses into substantial buildings, it is just possible they are the forerunners of our modern town halls.

Certainly many were expanded to accommodate local councils while continuing to be known as crosses.

However, in spite of this, a lot remain in their original form, some in remarkably good condition and others mere weather-worn stumps in an old stone base.

Updated: 14:32 Wednesday, February 16, 2005