A market cross, or in Scots, a mercat cross, is a structure used to mark a market square in market towns, where historically the right to hold a regular market or fair was granted by the monarch, a bishop or a baron.
Market crosses were 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 many market towns in Britain. [1] British emigrants often installed such crosses in their new cities, and several can be found in Canada and Australia. [2]
The market cross could be representing the official site for a medieval town or village market, granted by a charter, or it could have once represented a traditional religious marking at a crossroads. [2]
These structures range from carved stone spires, obelisks or crosses, common to small market towns such as that in Stalbridge, Dorset, [3] to large, ornate covered structures, such as the Chichester Cross, [4] or Malmesbury Market Cross. [5] They can also be constructed from wood; an example is at Wymondham, Norfolk. [6]
Compton Bishop is a small village and civil parish, at the western end of the Mendip Hills in the English county of Somerset. It is located close to the historic town of Axbridge. Along with the village of Cross and the hamlets of Rackley and Webbington it forms the parish of Compton Bishop and Cross.
Linton is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. The population as of the 2011 census was 176. It lies not far from Grassington, just south of the River Wharfe, and is 7 miles (11 km) north of Skipton. Linton Beck runs through the village and then joins the Wharfe at Linton Falls. The beck is crossed by two Grade II listed bridges on the village green, and is overlooked by Fountaine's Hospital, a Grade II* listed chapel and almshouse built in the style of Sir John Vanburgh. There is also a public house, the Fountaine Inn.
East Dean is a village and civil parish in the District of Chichester in West Sussex, England. The village is in a valley in the South Downs, 5+1⁄2 miles (9 km) north-northeast of Chichester on a narrow road between Singleton on the A286 and Upwaltham on the A285 road. The village pond is considered to be the source of the River Lavant.
St Carantoc's Church, Crantock is in the village of Crantock, Cornwall, England. Since 1951 the church has been designated as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Truro, the archdeaconry of Cornwall and the deanery of Pydar. Its benefice is combined with that of St Cubert.
St Peter's Church is in the village of Heysham, Lancashire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Lancaster, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn.
St Swithun's Church is a historic Anglican church in the village of Brookthorpe, Gloucestershire, England under the care of The Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.
St Wilfrid's Church is an Anglican church in Halton-on-Lune, a village in the English county of Lancashire. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn and the archdeaconry of Lancaster. Halton may have been the site of an ancient Anglo-Saxon minster. Of the current structure, the tower dates from the 16th century and the remainder was built 1876–77 by Paley and Austin. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.
St Laurence's Church is in Church Street, Church Stretton, Shropshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Condover, the archdeaconry of Ludlow, and the diocese of Hereford. Its benefice is united with those of St Michael and All Angels, All Stretton, and All Saints, Little Stretton to form the parish of Church Stretton. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.
Tarporley is a civil parish in Cheshire West and Chester, England. It contains 39 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings. It includes the large village of Tarporley; otherwise the parish is rural. Of the listed buildings, five are at Grade II*, the others are at Grade II. The Grade II* listed buildings are the church, a hotel in the village, the former market hall, a large house on the outskirts of the village, and a farmhouse just outside the village. Many of the listed buildings are in the village, and a high proportion of these are in its High Street. Outside the village, they are houses and associated buildings.
West Somerset is a local government district in the county of Somerset which is in South West England. In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance; Grade II* structures are those considered to be "particularly significant buildings of more than local interest". Listing was begun by a provision in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Once listed, severe restrictions are imposed on the modifications allowed to a building's structure or its fittings. In England, the authority for listing under the Planning Act 1990 rests with Historic England, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; local authorities have a responsibility to regulate and enforce the planning regulations.
Mendip is a local government district in the English county of Somerset. The Mendip district covers a largely rural area of 285 square miles (738 km2) ranging from the Mendip Hills through on to the Somerset Levels. It had a population of approximately 110,000 in 2014. The administrative centre of the district is Shepton Mallet.
North Somerset is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. As a unitary authority, North Somerset is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county of Somerset. Its administrative headquarters are located in the town hall of Weston-super-Mare.
Sedgemoor is a local government district in the English county of Somerset. In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance; Grade II* structures are those considered to be "particularly significant buildings of more than local interest". Listing was begun by a provision in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Once listed, severe restrictions are imposed on the modifications allowed to a building's structure or its fittings. In England, the authority for listing under the Planning Act 1990 rests with Historic England, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; local authorities have a responsibility to regulate and enforce the planning regulations.
Taunton Deane is a local government district with borough status in the English county of Somerset. In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance; Grade II* structures are those considered to be "particularly significant buildings of more than local interest". Listing was begun by a provision in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Once listed, severe restrictions are imposed on the modifications allowed to a building's structure or its fittings. In England, the authority for listing under the Planning Act 1990 rests with Historic England, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; local authorities have a responsibility to regulate and enforce the planning regulations.
Warburton is a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. It contains 22 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The parish contains the village of Warburton, and is otherwise rural. Most of the listed buildings are houses, farmhouses and farm buildings. The other listed buildings include churches and associated structures, a war memorial, and an enclosure containing stocks and a cross base, with its wall also listed.
Adel and Wharfedale is a ward in the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It contains 40 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The ward is to the north of the centre of Leeds, and contains the areas of Adel and Cookridge, and countryside to the north. The ward contains St John's Church, which is listed at Grade I, and associated buildings and monuments in the churchyard are listed. Also in the ward is Lawnswood Cemetery, which contains listed buildings and memorials, including a war memorial. In the ward is Cookridge Hall, which is listed together with associated structures. The other listed buildings include houses, farmhouses and farm buildings, two milestones, a public house, and a former reform school.
Darfield is a ward in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. The ward contains 20 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The ward contains the village of Darfield and the surrounding countryside. Most of the listed buildings are houses and associated structures, farmhouses and farm buildings. The other listed buildings include a church and items in the churchyard, and two mileposts.
Darton is a village and surrounding area in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, consisting of two wards, Darton East and Darton West. The wards contain 48 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The wards contain the villages of Darton, Barugh and Kexbrough, the area of Wilthorpe, and the surrounding region. The most important building in the list is All Saints Church, Darton, which is listed together with items in the churchyard, including many graveslabs. Most of the other buildings are houses, cottages and associated structures, farmhouses and farm buildings. The other listed buildings include a former Sunday school, a former Methodist church, a bridge, and a series of mileposts or milestones.
Penistone is a civil parish in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. The parish contains 82 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, three are at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The parish contains the town of Penistone, the villages of Cubley, Hoylandswaine, Millhouse Green, and Thurlstone, and the surrounding countryside. Most of the listed buildings are houses, cottages and associated structures, farmhouses and farm buildings. The other listed buildings include churches and a chapel, items in a churchyard, and a former vicarage, a wayside cross, a boundary marker, a guide stoup, milestones, bridges, a railway viaduct, a former cloth hall, a former bank, a former nail workshop, coal drops, a war memorial, and a telephone kiosk.
Whiston is a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The parish contains 18 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, three are listed at Grade II*, the middle of the three grades, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The parish contains the villages of Whiston and Morthen and the surrounding countryside. Most of the listed buildings are houses and associated structures, farmhouses and farm buildings. The other listed buildings include a church, a headstone in the churchyard, a cross base, a set of stocks, and two mileposts.