Richmond Market Cross

Richmond Market Cross is a historic structure in Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England.

A Mediaeval cross stood in Richmond's market square; Christopher Clarkson described it as "the greatest beauty in the Town".[1] It was atop a plinth, surrounded by a 6 feet (1.8 m)-wall, ornamented with the shields of four local families, and with a stone dog at each corner. Despite this, the cross was demolished and replaced with a tall obelisk, which was completed in 1771.[2] It has been a focal point for the town, with the maypole, stocks, pillory and boulder for bear baiting all having been located around it.[3] Under the obelisk is a 12,000 imperial gallons (55,000 L)-tank which long served as the town's main reservoir.[2] The Victoria County History describes the obelisk as "not an interesting structure",[1] but the Darlington and Stockton Times claims it is "characterfully curious".[2]

The cross consists of a stone tapering obelisk with an octagonal plan. It stands on a plinth with alternating rectangular and round-headed niches, the latter with small pediments on brackets. Above it is a fluted frieze and a moulded cornice, and the obelisk is surmounted by a granite ball finial.[4] The obelisk bulges with what Nikolaus Pevsner describes as a "stupa-like entasis".[5] It has been grade II* listed since 1952.[4]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richmond Market Cross.
  1. ^ a b Page, William (1914). A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 1. London: Victoria County History. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Lloyd, Chris (15 May 2017). "A 12,000-gallon hole in the middle of Richmond". Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  3. ^ Chrystal, Paul; Sunderland, Mark (2011). Richmond & Swaledale Through Time. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 9781445630472.
  4. ^ a b Historic England. "The Cross, Richmond (1240522)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  5. ^ Grenville, Jane; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2023) [1966]. Yorkshire: The North Riding. The Buildings of England. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-25903-2.
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