Market Cross, Cheddar

Cheddar Market Cross in the village of Cheddar within the English county of Somerset, England dates from the 15th century. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument,[1] and Grade II* listed building.[2][3]

Cheddar Market Cross
The Market Cross in 2006
LocationCheddar, Somerset, England
Coordinates51°16′32″N 2°46′36″W
Built15th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameMarket Cross
Designated9 February 1961
Reference no.1173642
Official nameMarket Cross
Designated12 February 1925
Reference no.1019033
Location of Cheddar Market Cross in Somerset

The stone cross, used to mark the village's market square, has a central octagonal pier surrounded by a hexagonal shelter. It has been restored and rebuilt several times, including twice since 2000 when it has been damaged in traffic accidents.

History
Photochrom of Cheddar Market Cross in the 1890s

The market cross in Bath Street dates from the 15th century. In the 16th or 17th century it was enclosed with a hexagonal arch structure. It was rebuilt by Thomas, Marquis of Bath in the 18th century. The shelter was rebuilt and the rafters replaced in 1834. This was around the time of the market cross in nearby Axbridge being demolished and some of the material from that cross may have been used in Cheddar.[4] The cross head was added at some time after 1877.[1]

In January 2000, the cross was seriously damaged in a traffic accident.[5][6] By 2002, the cross had been rebuilt and the area around it was redesigned to protect and enhance its appearance.[7][8] The cross was badly damaged again in March 2012, when a taxi crashed into it late at night demolishing two sides.[9][10] Repair work using as much of the original stone as possible,[11] which included the addition of wooden-clad steel posts to protect against future crashes, was completed in November 2012 at a cost of £60,000.[12][13]

Architecture

It has a central octagonal pier, a socket raised on three steps, a hexagonal shelter with six arched four-centred openings, shallow two-stage buttresses at each angle, and an embattled parapet.[2] The shaft is crowned by an abacus with figures in niches, probably from the late 19th century, although the cross is now missing.

References
  1. Historic England. "Market Cross (1019033)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. Historic England. "Market Cross (1173642)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  3. "Market Cross". historicengland.org.uk. Historic England. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
  4. "The Square". Axbridge Town Council. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  5. Mat, Ian (28 January 2010). "Market cross was reduced to rubble in costly smash". Cheddar Valley Gazette.
  6. Pickering, Andrew; Foster, Nicola (2015). Cheddar Through Time Revised Edition. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 9781445650722.
  7. "Annual Report 2002" (PDF). Somerset Heritage. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  8. Pickering, Andrew (2013). Cheddar Through Time. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 9781445624853.
  9. "Cheddar's medieval cross damaged in taxi crash". BBC News. 31 March 2012.
  10. "Taxi Crashes into Cheddar's Market Cross". ITV News. 31 March 2012.
  11. "The Market Cross, Cheddar". Stonemasons. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  12. "Cheddar's medieval cross repaired after taxi crash". BBC News. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  13. "Market Cross is repaired and peace restored in Cheddar". Western Daily Press. 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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