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Coordinates: 50°50′12″N 0°46′45″W / 50.83667°N 0.77917°W / 50.83667; -0.77917
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{{Short description|Grade I listed structure in Chichester, England}}
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[[Image:Project Gutenberg eText 13495 470-1.png|thumbnail|right|250px|Chichester Cross, in a circa 1831 illustration. The cross stands to this day.]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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'''Chichester Cross''' stands in the centre of the city of [[Chichester]], [[England]] at the intersection of the four principal streets. According to the inscription upon it, this cross was built by [[Edward Story]], the bishop of Chichester from [[1477]]–[[1503]] but little is known for certain and the style and ornaments of the building suggest that it may be referred to the time of [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]]. It was built so that the poor people should have somewhere to sell their wares. An earlier wooden cross had been erected on the same site by Bishop Rede (1369-1385). The stone cross was repaired during the reign of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], and at the expense of the [[Duke of Richmond]], in 1746 and stands to this day.
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Chichester Cross
| image = Market Cross Chichester (5696220292).jpg
| caption = Chichester Cross in May 2011
| location = [[Chichester]], [[West Sussex]], [[England]]
| designation1 = Grade I
| designation1_date = {{Start date and age|1950|07|05|df=y}}
| locmapin = West Sussex
| map_caption = Location of the Chichester Cross within West Sussex
| coordinates = {{coord|50|50|12|N|0|46|45|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title,inline}}
| governing_body = [[Historic England]]
| owner = [[Chichester District Council]]
| built = {{circa}} 1477 to 1503
| restored = 1746
| restored_by = [[Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond]]
| built_for = [[Edward Story]]
}}
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[[Image:Chichester_Cross,_c.1831.png|thumbnail|right|250px|Chichester Cross, in a {{circa|1831}} illustration.]]


'''Chichester Cross''' is an elaborate [[Perpendicular Period|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]].<ref>{{NHLE|num=1026826|desc=Market Cross, Chichester|grade=I|accessdate=15 July 2020}}</ref>
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The Market Cross is constructed of Caen stone, one of the most favoured building materials of the age. The cross' 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.


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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 of England|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 (bishop)|William Reade]] (1369–1385). The stone cross was repaired during the reign of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], and at the expense of [[Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond]] in 1746, and stands to this day.<ref name=cross>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PvVZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA17|title=The Chichester Cross|publisher=The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction No. 470|volume=17|date=8 January 1831}}</ref>
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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. Fortunately, however, the city was exempted from the reproach of such a proceeding by the public spirit of some of the members of the corporation, who purchased several houses on the north side of the Cross, in order to widen that part of the street, by their demolition.


⚫
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 [[crocket]]s 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.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1269291|desc=The Cross, Market Cross, Malmesbury|grade=I|accessdate=15 July 2020}}</ref>
==External links==
*[http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/1/3/4/9/13495/13495-h/13495-h.htm Chichester Cross] in ''The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction'', Vol. XVII. No. 470. Saturday January 8, 1831, at [[Project Gutenberg]], from which this article is derived.


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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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/chichesters-cross-still-standing-1181654|title=Chichester's Cross is still standing|publisher=Chichester Observer|accessdate=15 July 2020}}</ref><ref name=cross/>
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in West Sussex]]

[[Category:Chichester]]
A bust of King Charles I by [[Hubert Le Sueur]] was added to the cross in the 1660s.<ref name=Novium>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenovium.org/kingcharles |title=King Charles I Bust |website=.thenovium.org |publisher=Novium Museum |access-date=2 December 2022}}</ref> The bust was removed in the 1970s after which it was replaced by a glass fibre replica. <ref name=Rogan>{{cite news |last=Rogan |first=Amanda |date=6 December 2019 |title=Changing Times : The history of the Charles I Bust artefact |url=https://www.chichesterpost.co.uk/2019/12/changing-times-the-history-of-the-charles-i-bust-artefact/ |work=Chichester Post |access-date=2 December 2022}}</ref> In 2019 it was loaned to [[The Novium]] museum.<ref name=stack>{{cite news |last=Stack |first=Joe |date=12 November 2019 |title=Chichester celebrates the homecoming of Market Cross sculpture |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/chichester-celebrates-the-homecoming-of-market-cross-sculpture-983362 |work=Sussex World |location= |access-date=2 December 2022}} </ref>


==References==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Chichester]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Market crosses in England]]

Latest revision as of 04:34, 24 August 2023

Chichester Cross
Chichester Cross in May 2011
LocationChichester, West Sussex, England
Coordinates50°50′12″N 0°46′45″W / 50.83667°N 0.77917°W / 50.83667; -0.77917
Builtc. 1477 to 1503
Built forEdward Story
Restored1746
Restored byCharles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
Governing bodyHistoric England
OwnerChichester District Council
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated5 July 1950; 74 years ago (1950-07-05)
Chichester Cross is located in West Sussex
Chichester Cross
Location of the Chichester Cross within West Sussex
Chichester Cross, in a c. 1831 illustration.

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]

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]
  1. ^ Historic England. "Market Cross, Chichester (Grade I) (1026826)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b The Chichester Cross. Vol. 17. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction No. 470. 8 January 1831.
  3. ^ Historic England. "The Cross, Market Cross, Malmesbury (Grade I) (1269291)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Chichester's Cross is still standing". Chichester Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. ^ "King Charles I Bust". .thenovium.org. Novium Museum. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  6. ^ Rogan, Amanda (6 December 2019). "Changing Times : The history of the Charles I Bust artefact". Chichester Post. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  7. ^ Stack, Joe (12 November 2019). "Chichester celebrates the homecoming of Market Cross sculpture". Sussex World. Retrieved 2 December 2022. 
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