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.

History

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]

Design

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]

Towns and villages in Great Britain with a market cross

A

B

C

D

E

F

• Frome

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

• Quainton^[160]

R

S

T

U

• Uttoxeter^[188]

W

• 
  Aberdeen
• 
  Bedale
• 
  Carlisle
• 
  Chichester
• 
  Highburton
• 
  Maybole
• 
  Salisbury
• 
  Shepton Mallet
• 
  Wymondham