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THE 


STONE     CROSSES 


COUNTY     OF     NORTHAMPTON, 


Of  this  work  not  more  than  50  large  paper  and 
200  small  paper  copies  have  been  printed,  of  which 
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ig&:=-^3i^SaotriS 


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^  6'n'/i  r/rc/o//)/   j/^r/u^'^y  ,/ .J/ur/t  £/.j;.i.von.  /f^'frr  ^AcrfA^i >/////<>„■ 


THE 


Stone  Crosses 


OF    THE 


County  of  Northampton 


BY 

CHRISTOPHER     A.     MARKHAM.     P.S.A.. 

HON.    SEC.    NORTHAMPTON    AND   OAKHAM   ARCHITECTURAL   SOCIETY;    AUTHOR    OF    "THE    CHURCH    PLATE    OF 
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE,"    "tHE    COUNTY    BUILDINGS    OF    NORTHAMPTONSHIRE,"    ETC. 


"  The  Cross  of  Christ." 


X  0  M  C)  0  n  : 

SIMPKIN,    MARSHALL,    HAMILTON,    KENT    &    CO.,    LTD. 

Hortbampton : 

JOSEPH     TEPBUTT. 

1901. 


aXriOi^q. 


^0 
S.    G.    STOPFORD    SACKVILLE,    Esq.,    M.P.-, 

CHAIRMAN    OF   QUARTER    SESSIONS 

AND     OF     THE     COUNTY     COUNCIL 

FOR   THE 

COUNTY   OF    NORTHAMPTON, 

WHO     HAS    DONE    GOOD    WORK    FOR, 

AND    IS     MUCH    INTERESTED    IN,    THE    ANTKIUITIES    OF 

HIS    NATIVE   COUNTY, 

I     DEDICATE    THIS    LITTLE     ROOK. 

C.  A.  M. 


2025831 


CONTENTS 


PAGR 

DEDICATION V 

CONTENTS                 vii 

ILLUSTRATIONS ix 

PREFACE           . xi 

INTRODUCTION XV 

PARTICULARS   OF   CROSSES I 

INDEX 121 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Oueen's  Cross,  near  Northampton,  from  Engraving  published  by  the 
Society  of  Antiquaries  in  1791     .         .         .  .       Frontispiece 

Oueen's  Cross,  Geddington,  from  Engraving  published  by  the  Society 
of  Antiquaries  in  1791  .......       To  face 

Queen's  Cross,  Geddington 


Oueen's  Cross,  near  Northampton,  el 
Statues  of  Queen  Eleanor 
Antiquaries  viewing  Oueen's  Cross 
Churchyard  Cross,  Apethorp 
Village  Cross,  Bainton 

Churchyard  Cross,  Barnack 
,,  ,,        Blisvvorth 

,,  ,,        Boddington  . 

Monument,  Boughton 
Churchyard  Cross,  Brampton 
Market  Cross,  Brigstock 
Bocase  Stone      .... 
Village  Cross,  Brington 
Churchyard  Cross,  Brixvvorth     . 
Market  Cross,  Bri.xvvorth     . 

Byfield 
Churchyard  Cross,  Castor  . 
Wayside  Cross,  Castor 
Crosses,  Gunvvade  Ferry 
Market  Cross,  Chipping  Warden 
Mounting  Block,     ,,  ,, 

Churchyard  Cross,  Cogenhoe 
Boundary  Stone,  Corby 
Churchyard  Cross,  Cottcrstock  . 
Village  Cross,  Cotterstock  . 
Market  Cross,  Culvvorth 


vation  an 


d  details 


To  face       S 


9 
II 

15 
17 
18 
20 
21 
22 

23 
26 
28 
30 
31 
32 
33 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
41 
42 

4+ 
45 
47 
49 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Cluirchyard  Cross,  Desborough  . 

,,  ,,       Earl's  Barton 

,,  ,,        Eydon 

Market  Cross,  Harring worth 

,,  ,,       Helpston 

Churchyard  Cross,  Cold  Higham 

,,        Higham  Ferrers 
Market  Cross,  Higham  Ferrers 
,,  ,,        Irthlingborough 

,,  ,,        King's  CHff 

Village  Crosses,  Longthorp 
,,  ,,         Marham    . 

Crosses,  Maxey  . 
Churciiyard  Cross,  Mear's  Ashby 

,,  ,,        Morton  Pinkeney 

,,  ,,        Moulton 

Village  Cross,  Naseby 
Churchyard  Cross,  Nassington    . 

,,  ,,        Ne\vton-in-the-Willo\vs 

,,  ,,        Saint  Peters,  Nortiiampton 

,,  ,,        The  Holy  Sepulchre,  Northampt 

Market  Cross,  Northampton 

,,  ,,       Oundle 

Churchyard  Cross,  Peakirk 

,,  ,,       Peterborougi 

,,  ,,       Raundes 

Market  Cross,  Rockingham 
Churchyard  Cross,  Rothersthorj 


Spratton 

Stoke  Doyle  . 

Stowe-Nine-Churches 


Village  Cross,  Sywell . 
Churchyard  Cross,  Upton 
Bridge  Cross,  Wansford 


52 
54 
55 
57 
60 
64 

65 
66 
69 
72 

75.  76 
76 
77 
78 

79 

80 

81 

83 

85 

86 

88 

90 

93 

95 

96 

100 

102 

104 

104 

106 

107 

108 

109 

1 10 

114 

115 


PREFACE 


IN  the  County  of  Northampton,  including  the  Soke 
of  Peterborough,  there  are  many  more  churchyard, 
market,  village,  and  wayside  crosses  than  are  generally 
known,  even  to  natives  of  the  shire. 

It  is  true  that  here  there  are  not  numbers  of  pre- 
historic crosses,  similar  to  those  sown  broadcast  over 
Cornwall  ;  mighty  monoliths,  similar  to  those  found  at 
Stonehenge  or  the  smaller  ones  in  Anglesea,  Orkney, 
and  other  places  ;  or  magnificent  market  crosses,  similar 
to  those  found  in  many  of  the  southern  counties  of 
England. 

Still,  the  remains  of  some  forty  churchyard,  ten 
market,  twenty  village,  four  wayside,  and  Wve  memorial 
■crosses,  with  sundry  boundary  stones,  make  a  total 
by  no  means  insignificant. 

Amongst  these  stones  are  many  fragments  of  Saxon 
churchyard  crosses,  and  the  interlacing  patterns  of  the 
ornamentation  of  several  of  these  are  very  interesting 
and  uncommon,  the  re[)resentation  of  the  Crucifixion 
at  Nassington  being  especially  worthy  ot  notice.  The 
cross  at  Cogenhoe  is  a  beautiful  and,  as  fir  as  this 
county  is  concerned,  a  unique  piece  of  work.  Several 
of  the  later  crosses,  particularly  those  in  the  churchyards 


xii  PREFACE. 

at  Raundes  and  Higham   Ferrers,  are  good  examples  of 
the   Decorated  period. 

Some  of  the  market  crosses  are  also  of  considerable 
merit,  those  at  Higham  Ferrers  and  Irthlingborough 
of  the  Early  English  and  that  at  Helpston  of  the 
Decorated  period  being  the  most  interesting,  the 
cross  at  the  latter  village  is  a  most  charming  and 
uncommon  erection. 

This  county  is  also  in  the  proud  position  of 
possessing  two,  out  of  the  three  remaining,  beautiful 
memorials  built  by  King  Edward  in  memory  of  his  wife 
Eleanor. 

The  list  of  crosses  here  given  has  been  most  care- 
fully compiled  ;  but,  although  the  writer  has  personally 
visited  every  town  and  village  in  the  county,  it  is 
quite  possible  or  even  probable  that  portions  of  other 
crosses  still  remain.  These  fragments  turn  up  from 
time  to  time,  now  buried  in  the  foundations  of  a 
church,  now  used  as  a  fort,  then  as  a  bench  in  a 
cottage  garden,  and  anon  as  a  mounting  block  in  a 
stable-yard. 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  entries  in  our  County 
Histories,  which  have  been  as  far  as  possible  noted, 
the  historical  materials  relating  to  these  crosses  are 
so  extremely  small,  that,  when  the  structures  themselves 
have  been  described,  there  is  little  more  to  say  about 
them. 

A  very  large  number  of  engravings  of  the  crosses- 
at  Geddington  and  Hardingston  have  been  published  r 
but  few  of  the  other  crosses  have  been  illustrated  in 
any  work. 

Of  the  crosses  still  remaining,  it  will  be  found  that 
no  two  are  alike  in  design  ;  even  the  sockets  are  quite 


PREFA  CE.  xiii 

■distinct    in    shape    and   proportions,    the    one    from    the 
other. 

Many  of  the  crosses  have,  at  various  times,  been 
restored  ;  but  such  restorations  are  seldom  successful. 
The  market  cross  at  Brio^stock  was  made  in  Queen 
Elizabeth's  reign  on  ancient  steps  and  socket  ;  and  the 
pillar  at  Desborough  was  also  constructed  on  the  base 
of  a  much  more  ancient  cross.  The  restoration  of  the 
cross  at  Rockingham  is,  however,  most  excellent,  and 
worthy  of  all  praise. 

As  the  history  of  crosses  is  so  intimately  connected 
with  that  of  markets,  the  writer  has  thought  that  it 
would  be  well  to  give  a  complete  list  of  the  markets 
and  fairs  held  in  the  county,  including  those  places 
at  which  there  is  no  record  of  a  cross. 

The  writer  first  dealt  with  this  subject  in  a  paper 
he  read  before  the  Architectural  Society  for  the  Arch- 
deaconries of  Northampton  and  Oakham  in  1895, 
which  has  now  been  expanded  and  published  in  a 
separate  form,  his  desire  being  to  do  for  this  county 
what  was  done  for  the  counties  of  Gloucester  and 
Somerset  by  the  late  Mr.   Charles   Pooley,   F.S.A. 

Our  thanks  are  due  to  many  who  have  given  in- 
formation and  assistance ;  and  especially  to  the  late 
Sir  Henry  Dryden,  Bart,  and  the  late  Mr.  J.  T.  Irvine 
for  the  loans  of  drawings,  the  sketches  of  the  crosses 
at  Barnack,  Castor,  Longthorp,  and  Peakirk  being 
from  drawings  by  the  latter  ;  to  Mr.  Albert  Hartshorne, 
F.S.A.,  for  information  as  to  the  cross  at  Cogenhoe, 
and  to  Mr.  R.  P.  Brereton  for  information  as  to  crosses 
at  Stanion,  Stoke  Doyle,  and  Warmington  ;  to  the  Rev. 
R.  M.  Serjeantson  and  Mr.  F.  W.  Bull  for  references 
to    wills;  to  Mr.    M.   H.   Holding  for  kindly  criticism; 


xiv  PREFACE. 

to  Messrs.  Able  &  Sons  for  loan  of  copperplates  and 
woodcuts  of  Queen's  Cross,  Northampton,  and  to 
Mr.  John  Taylor  for  loan  of  cut  of  the  Northampton 
market  cross,  and  of  engraving  of  Antiquaries  viewing 
Queen's  Cross  ;  and  to  Mr.  Stuart  Beattie  for  loan 
of  enofravino:  of  Oundle  market  cross. 

C.  A.  M. 


INTRODUCTION. 


FROM  the  earliest  times  rough  stone  pillars  have 
been  erected  by  men  of  all  nations,  to  be  the 
evidence  of  a  covenant,  to  mark  the  graves  of  the 
dead,  or  to  commemorate  an  event. 

Probably  the  earliest  notices  of  such  pillars  are  those 
contained  in  the  books  of  Genesis  and  Joshua. 

When  Jacob  was  journeying  towards  Padan-aram, 
he  tarried  in  a  certain  place  because  the  sun  was  set. 
He  had  a  vision,  in  which  God  appeared  to  him  with 
promises  of  blessings,  and  when  he  awoke  he  said, 
"  Surely  the  Lord  is  in  this  place."  So  he  rose  up 
early,  and  took  the  stone  that  he  had  put  for  his  pillow, 
set  it  up  for  a  pillar,  poured  oil  upon  it,  and  said,  "  This 
stone,  which  I  have  set  for  a  pillar,  shall  be  God's 
house."  ^ 

Again,  when  Jacob,  having  prospered  in  the  land  of 
Padan-aram,  was  returning  to  his  native  country,  God 
appeared  again  to  him  at  Beth-el,  and  renewed  the 
covenant  with  him.  So  Jacob  at  once  "  set  up  a  pillar 
in  the  place  where  he  [God]  talked  with  him,  even  a 
pillar  of  stone  :  and  he  poured  a  drink  offering  thereon, 
and  he  poured  oil  thereon." - 

'  Gen.  xxviii.  16-22.  -  Gen.  xxxv.  14. 


xvi  INTRODUCTION. 

These  stones,  then,  were  erected  as  evidence  of 
covenants  between  God  and  man,  and  were  sanctified 
with  wine  and  with  oil. 

Again,  when  Jacob  made  a  covenant  with  his  father- 
in-law  Laban,  he  took  a  stone  and  set  it  up  for  a  pillar, 
and  they  gathered  stones  and  made  an  heap,  and  they 
did  eat  upon  the  heap.  And  Laban  called  the  pillar 
and  the  heap  of  stones  to  witness  that  neither  he  nor 
Jacob  should  pass  over  to  do  the  other  harm.'* 

Again,  when  Joshua,  having  gathered  all  the  tribes 
of  Israel  together  to  Shechem,  rehearsed  to  them  the 
benefits  the  Lord  had  done  to  them,  he  called  on  them 
to  serve  the  Lord  their  God,  and  "  took  a  great  stone, 
and  set  it  up  there  under  an  oak,  that  was  by  the 
sanctuary  of  the  Lord.  And  Joshua  said  unto  all  the 
people,  Behold,  this  stone  shall  be  a  witness  unto  us  ; 
for  it  hath  heard  all  the  words  of  the  Lord  which  he 
spake  unto  us  :  it  shall  be  therefore  a  witness  unto  you, 
lest  ye  deny  your  God."  ^ 

These  stones,  then,  were  erected  as  evidence  of 
covenants  between  man  and  man  ;  and  in  these  cases, 
note  well  that  the  stones  were  not  consecrated  with  wine 
or  with  oil. 

Surely  this  was  a  very  grand  idea,  and  worthy  of 
the  greatest  of  poets,  of  a  stone  becoming  indued  with 
human  faculties,  nay,  more  than  human,  and  remaining 
to  all  time  as  an  enduring  record  of  the  words  it  had 
heard.  The  same  feeling  was  present  with  the  great 
warrior  who,  when  he  addressed  his  troops  in  Egypt, 
said  that  forty  centuries  looked  down  on  their  deeds 
from  the  pyramids. 

Again,  when   Jacob,   with   his  wives   and  family,  was 

3  Gen.  x.xxi.  45.  ''  Josh.  xxiv.  26. 


INTR  OD  UCTION.  x  v  i  i 

journeying  from  Heth-cl,  Rachel  died,  and  was  buried 
in  the  way  to  Ephrath,  Jacob,  according  to  his  wont, 
''  set  up  a  pillar  upon  her  grave  :  that  is  the  pillar  of 
Rachel's  grave  unto  this  day."  ^ 

This  stone,  then,  was  erected  to  mark  the  grave  of 
the  dead. 

Again,  when  the  Children  of  Israel  passed  over 
Jordan,  a  man  was  chosen  out  of  every  tribe,  and 
commanded  to  take  out  of  the  midst  of  Jordan,  from 
the  place  where  the  priests'  feet  stood  hrm,  twelve 
stones,  to  carry  them  to  the  place  where  they  lodged 
that  night,  and  to  set  them  up  as  a  memorial  unto  the 
Children  of  Israel  for  ever.  And  these  twelve  stones 
were  accordingly  taken  out  of  Jordan,  and  pitched  in 
Gilgal.  And  Joshua  also  set  up  twelve  stones  in  the 
midst  of  Jordan.^ 

These  stones,  then,  were  erected  to  commemorate 
an  event. 

Monuments  such  as  we  have  mentioned  have  been 
more  or  less  reverenced  in  all  ages  ;  and  small  stones 
or  crosses  have  remained  where  they  were  placed,  for 
centuries,  although  so  small  that  they  might  have  been 
moved  by  one  man. 

No  doubt,  in  course  of  time,  the  size  of  the  structure 
was  considered  to  add  dignity,  and  so  we  pass  from  the 
small  stones  of  savage  and  nomadic  people  to  the  mighty 
obelisks  of  the  ancient  Egyptians,  and  the  great  works 
of  the  Assyrians  and  Greeks. 

The  task  of  tracing  the  history  of  stone  monuments 
of  all  countries  and  of  all  ages  would  take  us  too  tar 
afield  ;  therefore,  after  these  slight  preliminary  remarks, 
I   propose  to  say  a  few  words  about  crosses  generally  ; 

■*  Gen.  xxxv.  20.  "^  Josh.  iv.  2. 


xviii  INTRODUCTION. 

and  then  simply  to  deal  with  those  stones  still  remain- 
ing in  this  county  which  are  uncommon  or  interesting, 
both  those  which  are  in  the  form  of  crosses,  and 
which  otherwise  appear  pertinent  to  the  subject  of 
this  work. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  Christ,  the  cross 
became  the  token  of  the  Christian's  religion,  for  Saint 
Chrysostom  informs  us  that  the  early  Christians  care- 
fully painted  the  cross  on  their  doors,  walls,  and 
windows,  as  a  symbol  of  their  faith.  Even  in  their 
persons  they  exhibited  the  same  sign,  praying  with 
their  arms  extended,  even  as  their  Master's  were  on 
the  tree. 

Constantine,  in  the  fourth  century  after  Christ,  had 
the  cross  embossed  on  the  helmets,  engraved  on  the 
shields,  and  woven  in  the  banners  of  his  soldiers. 

Thus  the  cross  became  the  emblem  of  the  Christian's, 
as  the  crescent  of  the  Moslem's  faith. 

The  Venerable  Bede  records  that  when  Saint 
Augustine  and  his  company  visited  England  early  in 
the  seventh  century,  they  were  received  by  King 
Ethelbert  for  fear  of  magic,  but  "they  came  furnished 
with  Divine,  not  with  magic  virtue,  bearing  a  silver 
cross  for  their  banner,  and  the  image  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  painted  on  a  board." " 

The  first  absolute  record  that  we  have  of  the  fixing 
of  a  cross  into  British  soil  was  when  King  Oswald,  about 
640,  before  engaging  in  battle  against  the  barbarians, 
erected  "  the  sign  of  the  holy  cross,  and  on  his  knees 
prayed  to  God  that  he  would  assist  his  worshippers  in 
their  great  distress.  It  is  further  reported,  that  the 
cross  being  made  in  haste,  and  the  hole   dug  in  which 

^  Ecclesiastical  History^  by  Venerable  Bede  (1840),  p.  43. 


INTRODUCTION.  xix 

it  was  to  be  fixed,  the  king  himself,  fijll  of  faith,  laid 
hold  of  it  and  held  it  with  both  his  hands,  till  it  was 
set  fast  by  throwing  in  the  earth  ;  and  this  done, 
raising  his  voice,  he  cried  to  the  army,  '  Let  us  all 
kneel  and  jointly  beseech  the  true  and  living  God 
Almighty,  in  his  mercy,  to  defend  us  from  the  haughty 
and  fierce  enemy  ;  for  he  knows  that  we  have 
undertaken  a  just  war  for  the  safety  of  our  nation.' 
All  did  as  he  had  commanded,  and  accordingly 
advancing  towards  the  enemy  with  the  first  dawn  of 
day,  they  obtained  the  victory,  as  their  faith  deserved." 
The  place  where  this  cross  was  erected  was  called 
in  the  English  tongue  Heofonfeld,  which  signifies  "the 
heavenly  field,"  and  many  miracles  were  recorded  to 
have  been  performed  by  chips  of  wood  cut  from  the 
cross. ^ 

In  certain  parts  of  England  the  pagan  monuments 
were  utilised  by  the  Christians,  who  carved  crosses  on 
some,  as  they  altered  the  names  and  characters  of  the 
figures  engraved  on  others,  in  order  to  represent  their 
own   faith. 

Some  of  these  early  stones  were  called  "  bowing 
stones,"  because  all  who  passed  made  obeisance  to  them. 

In  the  times  of  the  Plantagenets  it  was  usual  for 
men  to  erect  crosses  on  their  houses  and  lands,  in 
order  that  they  might  claim  the  privilege  of  Knights 
Templars  to  defend  themselves  against  their  rightful 
lords.  But  this  practice  became  so  common  and  so 
injurious  to  the  chief  lord,  that  by  a  statute  passed 
in    1285   it  was  enacted  that: 

"  Forafmuch  as  many  Tenants  fet  up  Croffes,  or 
caufe  to  be   fet  up  in  their  Lands,  in   Prejudice  of  their 

*■  Ecclesiastical  History,  by  Venerable  Bede  (1840),  p.  126. 


XX  INTRODUCTION. 

Lords,  that  Tenants  fliould  defend  themfelves  againft 
the  chief  Lords  of  the  Fee,  by  the  Privileges  of 
Templars  and  Hofpitalers  "  ;  "(2)  it  is  ordained,  That 
fuch  Lands  Ihall  be  forfeit  to  the  chief  Lords,  or  to 
the  King,  in  the  fame  Manner  as  is  provided  for  Lands 
aliened   in  Mortmain^ 

No  doubt  crosses  such  as  these  were  of  a  temporary 
nature,  and  probably  were  made  of  wood. 

In  the  Middle  Ages  the  use  of  the  cross  became 
so  common  that  even  the  alphabets  used  by  children 
were  written  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  and  thus  the  term 
"Christ  cross  row"  became  general. 

At  the  time  of  the  plague,  too,  the  sign  of  the  cross 
was  placed  on  the  houses  inhabited  by  families  infected 
with  this  frightful  disease,  the  words  "  Lord,  have 
mercy  upon   us,"   being  also  usually  added. 

The  earliest  form  of  cross  was,  probably,  simply  a 
plain,  oblong  stone,  set  upright  on  or  in  the  earth,  so 
as  to  form  a  rough  shaft.  In  course  of  time  the  shaft 
was  inserted  into  a  socket,  to  give  it  stability.  The 
shaft  and  socket  were  then  raised  on  one  or  more  steps, 
eight  or  ten  being  occasionally  used.  And  finally,  cross 
arms,  a  carved  head,  or  some  other  ornament,  was  added 
to  the  summit  of  the  shaft. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  when  stones  were  put 
together  in  the  most  extensive  and  beautiful  wav  to 
form  a  place  of  worship,  it  was  on  the  basis  of  a 
cross.  From  the  earliest  times  the  plan  of  all  cathe- 
drals and  the  larger  churches  has  been  cruciform.  In 
the  east  of  Europe  the  arms  or  transepts  ot  the 
building  were  equal  in  length  to  the  nave  and  chancel, 
while  in  the  west  the   transepts  and  chancel   were  con- 

^  Stat.  Wcstm.,  2,  c.  33. 


I  NT  ROD  UCTION.  xxi 

siderably  shorter  than  the  nave,  these  forms  being 
respectively  known  as  the  Greek,  or  "  Ideal,"  and  the 
Latin,  or  "  Suffering,"  cross.  So  that,  even  in  the  plan 
of  his  place  of  worship,  the  Christian  has  always  kept 
in   mind  the  shape  of  his  sign  of  salvation. 

In  this  county  there  is  a  curious  and  unique  example 
of  a  cruciform  structure  in  the  unfinished  building 
known  as  "  Lyvedon  New  Bield,"  which  was  erected 
about  1605  by  Sir  Thomas  Tresham,  who  was  zealous 
in  the  Romish  persuasion,  and  suffered  for  his  religion. 
The  plan  of  this  building  is  a  perfect  Greek  cross,  of 
good  proportions,  with  a  bay  window  at  the  end  of 
each  arm  ;  but  as  a  residence  the  place  would  neither 
have  been  beautiful  nor  commodious. 

In  England  rude  stone  monuments  were  erected 
from  very  early  times,  but  it  was  not  until  about  a.d. 
43 1  that  crosses  were  set  up  in  churches  and  houses. 
And  about  a.d.  568  they  were  placed  on  steeples  and 
on  the  towers  of  churches. ^° 

Stone  crosses  in  England  might  have  weathered 
wind  and  rain,  heat  and  cold,  and  remained  fairly 
perfect  to  the  present  time,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
another  element.  This  came  after  the  time  of  the 
Reformation.  The  Puritan  power  in  London,  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  was  very  great,  and  the  whole 
feeling  of  the  country  was  strongly  against  any  super- 
stitious uses  whatever.  The  Parliament  therefore  made 
certain  orders  as  to  the  manner  in  which  services  were 
to  be  conducted  in  churches.  The  House  of  Lords 
first  made  an  order  on  the  16th  January,  1 640-1, 
that    services    should    be    performed    according    to   la\\ . 

'"  Haydn's  I)ictio7tary  of  Dates,  1889,  p.  243. 


xxii  INTRODUCTION. 

and  that  parsons  should  not  introduce  rites  or  ceremonies 
that  might  give  offence. 

In  SeptemlDer,  1641,  the  debate  on  innovations  was 
renewed  by  the  Commons  ;  and  after  a  great  deal 
of  discussion,  an  order  was  framed  to  suppress  all 
innovations  in  the  worship  of  God,  and  that  "  all 
crucifixes  scandalous  pictures  of  any  one  or  more 
persons  of  the  Trinity  and  all  images  of  the  Virgin 
Mary  should  be  taken  away  and  abolished  and  all 
tapers  candlesticks  and  basons  removed  from  the 
Communion  tables."  ^^  This  order  was  not  agreed  to 
by  the  Lords,  so  it  was  resolved  by  the  Commons  to 
print  and  publish  the  full  order.  The  effect  of  this 
new  regulation  was  that  crosses  were  removed  from 
churches  ;  and  market,  street,  and  wayside  crosses  were 
mutilated  and,  in  many  instances,  entirely  destroyed  ; 
for  "  now  they  break  down  all  the  carved  work  thereof: 
with  axes  and  hammers."  And  this  destruction 
continued,  until  indeed  the  authorities  became  weary 
of  their  task   of  spoliation. 

Crosses  in  England  may  be  divided  into  the 
following  classes  :  Memorial,  Churchyard,  Market, 
Boundary,   Wayside,    Preaching,   and  Weeping   Crosses. 

Memorial  crosses  were  formerly  erected  to  mark  the 
spots  where  the  bodies  of  eminent  persons  rested  on 
the  way  from  the  places  of  death  to  the  places  of  burial, 
as  well  as  to  mark  the  grave  or  simply  to  commemorate 
the  memories  of  the  deceased  persons.  Of  the  first 
kind  was  the  wooden  cross  erected  on  the  brido-e  where 
the  relics  of  St.  Wandrigisilius  rested  during  their 
journey. 

The     most     memorable    of    such     crosses,    however, 

"  Journals  of  the  House  of  Co?nmons,  1641. 


IXTRODUCTIOX.  xxiii 

either  in  this  or  any  other  country,  are  those  which 
were  built  in  memory  of  good  Queen  Eleanor,  and 
of  those  three  still  remaining,  two  are  in  this  county. 
Of  the  second  class,  there  is  the  memorial  raised  to 
the  "  Northamptonshire  Peasant-Poet,"  John  Clare, 
at  Helpston,  the  crosses  commemorating  the  late 
Mrs.  Watson  in  the  village  of  Rockingham,  John  Leet 
and  Francis  Buttanshaw  in  the  churchyard  at  Cotter- 
stock,  and  Mr.  H.  P.  Gates  at  Peterborough. 

Funeral  monuments  are  appropriately  marked  with 
a  cross,  the  earliest  form  being  probably  a  tall  pyramidal 
sculptured  stone. 

Churchyard  crosses  were  raised  in  almost  every 
churchvard  throuQ^hout  the  land,  and  of  these  many, 
in  a  more  or  less  complete  condition,  are  still  in  exist- 
ence. The  proper  position  for  these  crosses  is  to  the 
south-east  of  the  south  door,  so  that  all  should  see  the 
cross  on  entering  the  church,  as  at  Church  Brampton, 
Preston  Capes,  Spratton,  and  Upton.  The  position 
was,  however,  often  varied,  because  of  the  position  ot 
the  church  being  to  the  south  of  the  village,  or  for 
other  reasons,  as  at  Blis worth,  Higham  Ferrers,  and 
other  places.  The  object  of  these  crosses  was  "  to 
inspire  recollection  in  those  persons  who  approached, 
and  reverence  towards  the  mysteries  at  which  they 
were  to  be  present."  Ihe  churchyard  cross  generally 
consisted  of  a  tall  shaft  standing  on  steps,  sometimes 
surmounted  by  a  canopied  head  with  statuettes,  some- 
times by  a  cross  finial,  and  sometimes  by  a  crucifix, 
and  it  was  often  very  highly  ornamented. 

Crec[jin^  to  the  cross  was  a  l^ojMsh  ceremony  of 
penance,   and   is    often   mentioned    by  our    old   writers. '-' 

'-   '^iinta'  Glossary  of  ] I 'on/s,  i!S22. 


xxiv  [NTRODUCTION. 

In  one  of  his  sermons  Latimer  says  :  "  As  there  was 
a  doctor  that  preached,  the  King's  majesty  hath  his 
holy  water,  he  creepeth  to  the  crosse."  In  The  Merry 
Devil  of  Edmonton  is  the  verse  : 

"  You  must  read  the  morning  Mass, 
You   must  creep  unto  the  cross, 
Put  cold  ashes  on  your  head. 
Have  a  hair-cloth  for  your  bed." 

This  ceremony  has,  of  course,  long  been  obsolete. 

Market  crosses  were  erected  in  all  towns  and 
villages  where  markets  were  held,  as  signs  of  upright 
intentions  and  fair  dealings,  and  as  checks  upon  worldly 
spirits.  At  many  of  these  places  there  were  abbeys 
or  religious  houses,  and  the  tolls  were  generally 
taken  by  these  ;  so  to  teach  Christianity,  and  also  to 
promote  the  fairs  and  markets,  the  monks  regularly 
preached  at  such  crosses.  It  was  said  that  "  the  general 
intent  of  market  crosses  was  to  excite  public  homage 
to  the  religion  of  Christ  crucified,  and  to  inspire  men 
with  a  sense  of  morality  and  piety  amidst  the  ordinary 
transactions  of  life."  ^^  And  market  crosses  were  also 
erected  at  villages  where  markets  were  held,  although 
there  might  be  no  religious  house  there.  Occasionally, 
as  at  Brington,  crosses  similar  to  those  built  in  market 
towns  were  erected  ;  although  it  is  certain  that  no 
markets  were   held  at  such  villages. 

It  was  a  common  practice  for  mendicants  to  station 
themselves  by  the  side  of  crosses,  and  ask  alms  in 
the  name  of  Jesus.  And  it  is  therefore  said  in  the 
north  of  England  of  one  urgent  in  entreaties  that 
"  He  begs  like  a  cripple  at  a  cross."  ^^ 

'3  Milner's  History  of  Winchester,  Vol.  II.,  p.  183. 
'^  Britton's  Architectural  Antiquities,  Vol.  I.,  p.  4. 


INTRODUCTIOX.  xxv 

The  earliest  form  of  the  market  cross  was  a  single 
shaft  on  steps,  sometimes  with,  but  more  often  without 
an  actual  cross  on  the  summit,  as  at  Northampton, 
Rockingham,  and  other  places.  Later,  and  in  the  more 
important  towns,  the  shaft  was  surrounded  by  an  arcade 
and  elaborately  ornamented  ;  and  sometimes  this  struc- 
ture was  provided  with  an  upper  chamber,  used  for 
containing  the  standard  weights  and  measures  of  the 
town,   and  was  of  considerable  size. 

Boundary  crosses  were  placed  to  mark  the  extent 
of  manors,  or  the  lines  between  one  property  and 
another.  Such  crosses  are  mentioned  as  having  existed 
at  Hieham  Ferrers;  and  no  doubt  the  Bocase  stone 
at  Brigstock  was  a  manorial  or  forest  boundary,  and 
the  stones  near  Cottingham  and  Hargrave  parish 
boundaries. 

Wayside  crosses  were  frequently  placed  in  con- 
spicuous places  by  the  side  of  a  road,  and  sometimes 
they  were  used  to  mark  the  way,  as  the  Sutton  cross, 
and  other  stones  near  Castor.  But  no  doubt  they  were 
generally  erected  from  religious  motives.  "  For  this 
reason  ben  Crosses  by  ye  waye,  that  whan  folke  passynge 
see  the  Crosses,  they  sholde  thynke  on  Hym  that  deyed 
on  the  Cross,  and  worseyppe  Hym  above  all  ihynge." 
It  was  also  thought  that  such  crosses  would  rc:strain 
the  predatory  customs  of  robbers. 

The  wayside  cross  resembled  the  churchyard  cross, 
but  was  generally  of  a  less  elaborate  design. 

There  are  but  few  preaching  or  weeping  crosses 
in  England,  and  probably  none  in  this  count)-,  so  such 
crosses  do  not  demand  further  notice  here. 

Crosses  may  be  divided,  with  respect  to  age,  into 
the  following  :    Anglo-Saxon,  from  about   800  to    1066; 


xxvi  INTRODUCTION. 

Norman,  from  about  1066  to  1180;  Early  English,  from 
about  1 180  to  1272;  Decorated,  from  about  1272  to 
1377  ;  and  Perpendicular,  from  about  1377  to  1530. 

It  appears  that  the  Saxons  were  great  cross  makers  ; 
and  whenever  a  twelfth,  thirteenth,  or  fourteenth  century 
church  is  pulled  down  or  restored,  remains  of  Saxon 
crosses  are  generally  found.  In  this  county  there  are 
some  eighteen  fragments  of  such  stones,  some  of  which 
are  ornamented  with  very  beautiful  and  uncommon 
interlacing  work. 

The  Normans  do  not  appear  to  have  erected  many 
crosses  ;  and  indeed  we  can  only  point  to  two  specimens 
of  their  workmanship  in  this  county — the  massive  cross 
at  Maxey,  and  the  small  and  finely  worked  fragment 
built   into   the  steps  of  the  cross  at   Bainton. 

But  few  crosses  were  made  during  the  Early  English 
period. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  and  during  the 
early  part  of  the  fourteenth  centuries  a  good  number 
of  crosses  were  set  up,  and  the  crosses  of  this  period 
still  remaining  are  very  fine,  for  the  memorial  crosses 
at  Geddino:ton  and  Hardinaston  and  the  market 
crosses  at  Higham  Ferrers  and  Irthlingborough  were 
erected  about    1280, 

In  the  fourteenth  century  very  many  crosses  were 
erected,  and  many  of  the  market  crosses  still  remaining 
are  of  this  date.  Amongst  the  finest  crosses  of  this 
time  are  the  churchyard  crosses  of  Higham  Ferrers  and 
Raundes  and  the  market  cross  at  Helpston, 

In  the  fifteenth  century  many  crosses  w^ere  made, 
and  the  greater  number  of  the  market  crosses  in  the 
county  appear  to  be  of  this  date. 

In  the  sixteenth   century  also  a  good  many  crosses 


INTRODUCTION.  xxvif 

were  erected,  until  the  time  of  the   Reformation,   when 
of  course  all  such  monuments  were  prohibited. 

All  the  crosses  described  are  more  or  less  damaged, 
and  in  many  cases  only  the  record  of  them  remains. 
One  cannot  but  regret  the  destruction  of  these  ancient 
stone  monuments,   for — 

"  E'en  a  post,  old  standard,  or  a  stone, 
jMoss'd  o'er  by  age  and  branded  as  her  own, 
Would  in  my  mind  a  strong  attachment  gain 
A  fond  desire  that  there  they  might  remain."  ^^ 

'•''  Helpstoii,  by  John  Clare. 


STONE    CROSSES     OF 
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


QUEEN^S    CROSSES. 

IT  is  curious  that  the  earHest  crosses  of  any  size  erected 
in  England  are  by  far  the  most  beautiful  ;  and 
amongst  the  memorial  crosses  of  Europe,  those  com- 
memorating Queen  Eleanor  stand  alone.  Of  these 
only  three  remain,  one  at  Geddington,  and  one  at 
Northampton,  both  in  this  county  ;  and  one  at  Waltham, 
in  the  county  of  Hertford. 

The  story  of  Edward  I.  and  his  sweet  wife  is  so  well 
known,  especially  to  natives  of  this  county,  that  I  feel 
some  apology  is  due  for  once  again  repeating  it. 

Eleanor,  or  perhaps  more  properly,  Eleanora,  was 
the  daughter  of  Ferdinand  III.  of  Castile,  by  Joanna, 
Countess  of  Ponthieu,  and  in  1254  she  was  betrothed 
to  Prince  Edward,  the  bridegroom  being  fifteen  and 
the  bride  about  ten  years  of  age. 

After  completing  her  education  at  Bordeaux,  Eleanor 
returned  to  England  with  her  mother-in-law  Eleanor 
on  the  29th  October,  1265,  ^^"^  was  received  at  Dover 
by  King  Henry  and  Prince  Edward.  The  Prince  found 
his  bride  a  lovely  and  accomplished  woman  of  twenty  ; 
and  after  receiving  an  enthusiastic  welcome  from  the 
inhabitants  of  London,  took  up  his  abode  with  her  in 
that  city. 

Eleanor  was  truly  a  soldier's  wife,  and  accomi)aniecl 

1 


2     STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 

her  husband  in  his  expeditions  to  the  Holy  Land,  Wales, 
and  Scotland.  According  to  the  well-known  legend, 
she  saved  her  husband's  life  at  the  siege  of  Acre  in  1272, 
by  sucking  from  his  arm  the  poison  of  the  assassin's 
dagger  :  "so  sovereign  a  medicine  is  a  woman's  tongue, 
anointed  with  the  virtue  of  loving  affection." 

Little  is  known  of  the  personal  life  of  Eleanor, 
either  as  Princess  or  Queen,  save  the  good  influence  she 
exercised  over  her  husband,  who  was  devotedly  attached 
to  her.  According  to  our  old  historian,  "  she  was  in 
her  lifetime  a  virtuous  Lady,  modest,  pittiful,  a  lover  of 
the  English  nation,  and  as  it  were  a  pillar  of  defence  to 
the  whole  nation." 

King  Edward,  towards  the  end  of  the  year  1290, 
took  his  journey  to  Scotland  as  superior  lord,  there  to 
decide  upon  the  rightful  heir  to  that  throne.  His  Queen 
journeyed  northwards  to  meet  her  husband,  but  she 
died  on  the  way,  on  the  28th  November,  at  the  house 
of  a  gentleman  named  Richard  Weston,  at  Harby,  in  the 
parish  of  North  Clifton  and  county  of  Nottingham. 
She  seems  to  have  suffered  from  an  autumnal  fever  for 
some  six  weeks  ;  and  although  the  King  returned  as  soon 
as  he  heard  of  her  illness,  he  never  saw  her  alive  again. 

King  Edward,  "  with  great  sorrow,  for  he  bewailed 
the  loss  of  her  all  the  days  of  his  life,"  determined  to 
carry  the  remains  of  his  beloved  Queen  to  Westminster, 
and  to  erect  a  memorial  "cross  of  wonderful  size" 
wherever  the  corpse  rested  for  the  night  on  the  journey  ; 
and  these  crosses  were  perhaps  the  most  remarkable 
memorial  crosses  ever  erected,  either  in  this  or  any 
other  country. 

The  distance  from  Harby  to  Westminster  was  by  the 
old  roads  about  159  miles,  and  it  is  said  that  the  time 
occupied  was  fifteen  days.  However,  it  is  probable  that 
only  twelve  of  the  crosses  were  actually  erected.  The 
sites   of   these  were   most   likely  at   Lincoln,   Grantham, 


QUEEN'S   CROSSES.  3 

Stamford,  Geddington,  Northampton,  Stony  Stratford, 
Woburn,  Dunstable,  St,  Albans,  Waltham,  West  Cheap, 
and   Charing. 

The  funeral  procession  started  on  the  4th  December, 
and  no  doubt  the  route  by  which  it  travelled  was  selected 
in  order  that  the  corpse  might  remain  at  certain  religious 
houses  and  palaces  on  the  way.  This  would  account 
for  the  funeral  cortege  resting  at  the  little  Northampton- 
shire village  of  Geddington,  because  of  the  royal  palace 
or  hunting-lodge  at  this  village. 

The  words  of  the  annalist  of  Dunstable,  describingf 
the  arrival  of  the  funeral  train  at  the  monastery  at 
Dunstable,  although  before  quoted,  will  bear  repetition 
as  representing  the  occurrences  at  each  place  where  the 
procession  rested.  The  annalist,  after  mentioning  the 
death  of  the  Queen,  says  :  "  Her  body  passed  through 
our  town,  and  rested  one  night.  And  two  precious 
cloths,  to  wit,  baudekyns  were  given  unto  us.  Of  wax 
we  had  eighty  pounds  and  more.  And  when  the  body 
of  the  said  Queen  was  departing  from  Dunstable,  the 
bier  rested  in  the  centre  of  the  market  place  until  the 
king's  chancellor  and  the  great  men  then  and  there 
present  had  marked  a  fitting  place  where  they  might 
afterwards  erect,  at  the  royal  expense,  a  cross  of 
wonderful  size.  Our  prior  being  then  present  and 
sprinkling  holy  water." 

Ot  the  three  remaining  crosses,  that  at  Geddington 
has  been  only  slightly  restored  ;  that  at  Northampton 
has  been  restored,  as  hereinafter  mentioned,  at  least 
four  times  ;  while  that  at  Waltham  has  been  so  much 
restored  that  little  more  than  the  core  of  the  original 
structure  remains. 

These  crosses  have  been  frequently  reproduced, 
and  the  writer  has  notes  of  nineteen  illustrations  of 
the  Geddington,  and  fifty-one  illustrations  of  the 
Northampton   cross. 


4    STOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

GEDDINGTON. 

Memorial    Cross. 

The  Geddington  cross  stands  in  the  midst  of  the 
village,  where  the  three  principal  streets  centre.  It 
is  for  the  most  part  constructed  of  Weldon  stone,  the 
string  courses  and  weatherings  being  of  Stanion  stone, 
which  is  of  slightly  harder  texture  ;  it  is  placed  on 
a  calvary  of  eight  plain  hexagonal  steps,  and  is  nearly 
forty-two  feet  high.  The  cross  itself  is  triangular  in 
plan,  and  consists  of  three  stories.  The  lower  portion 
is  solid,  and  is  divided  into  two  equal  parts  by  a 
horizontal  string  course.  In  the  centre  of  the  panels 
of  the  second  part  are  six  small  shields,  bearing  the 
arms  of  England,  Castile,  Leon,  and  Ponthieu.  The 
arms  of  Castile  and  Leon  are  borne  quarterly  on  one 
shield.  Each  face  of  the  solid  portion  is  slightly 
convex,  and  at  the  angles  and  on  the  centre  of  each 
face  are  small  shafts,  the  flat  portion  between  being 
entirely  covered  with  very  beautiful  diaper  work,  formed 
of  elegant  and  very  beautiful  roses,  carved  with  much 
delicacy.  The  second  story  is  also  triangular  in  plan, 
though  considerably  smaller  than  the  lower  part  ;  it 
is  turned  a  third  round,  so  that  the  points  come  in 
the  centres  of  the  sides  of  the  lower  part.  The  three 
figures  of  the  Queen  are  placed  with  their  backs  to 
the  flat  sides  of  the  upper  part,  and  are  covered  by 
triangular  vaulted  gables.  Thus  each  of  the  figures 
face  one  of  the  small  shafts,  standing  on  the  points 
of  the  lower  part,  and  supporting  the  gables.  The 
figures  are  very  similar  to  those  on  the  Northampton 
cross,  charmingly  designed  and  executed,  the  drapery 
being  admirable.  The  Queen  is  represented  as  a 
beautiful    woman,    with    a    long    flowing   robe,    and    veil 


This   Cross  was  creeled  in   memory  of  Quecu  ELEAXUR,  at   Gcddington. 


GEDDINGTON.  5 

falling  over  her  shoulders,  and  a  coronet  on  her  head. 
The  gables  over  the  vaults  are  ornamented  with 
beautiful  crockets,  of  fine  workmanship.  The  third 
story  again  is  smaller.  It  is  hexagonal  in  plan,^ 
formed  by  an  assemblage  of  slender  pinnacles  crowned 
by  small  crocketed  gables,  ornamented  with  oak 
leaves  and  a  flower  like  a  fleur-de-lys  on  the  top.  It 
forms  a  good  termination  to  the  structure,  and  appears- 
quite  complete,  although  it  is  possible  that  there  was- 
some  further  cross  or  pinnacle  above  it. 

This  cross  is,  in  the  opinion  of  many,  the  best  and 
most  elegant  of  the  three  Eleanor  crosses  still  in 
existence.  In  design,  feeling,  and  treatment  it  is  quite 
distinct  from  the  others,  and  the  triangular  arrangement 
gives  a  picturesqueness  to  the  structure  which  could 
not  be  obtained  from  a  more   regular  plan. 

Curiously  enough,  although  the  greater  number  of 
the  crosses  are  mentioned  in  the  accounts  and  records 
of  the  time,  this  one  is  never  alluded  to,  so  that  we 
have  no  information  as  to  the  name  of  the  architect 
or  the  cost  of  the  structure.  The  reason  of  this  is 
probably  because  the  accounts  only  extend  to  1294, 
and  this  cross  was  erected  immediately  after  that 
date. 

This  cross  has  looked  down  on  the  rough  and  cruel 
sports  of  our  ancestors,  when  badger-baiting  and  cock- 
fighting  were  carried  on  in  the  open  streets.  Nay,  the 
poor  cross  itself  has  suffered  froni  these  sports,  for  during 
many  years  it  was  the  annual  custom  on  Easter  Monday 
to  catch  squirrels  in  Geddington  Chase  and  turn  them 
loose  near  the  cross.  The  squirrels  endeavouring  to 
escape  would  run  up  the  building,  and  the  people  would 
pelt  them  with  stones,  as  the  poor  little  creatures  ran 
in  and  out  of  the  stone  work,  trying  to  hide  from  their 
enemies.  David  Townsend,  the  Geddington  black- 
smith   and   poet,    states    that    many    of  the   little  spires 


6     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTH AMPTOXSHIRE, 


^895 


^  C.A.M'dVfchdm. 


QUEEN  ELEANOR  S  CROSS,  GEDDINGTON. 


and   finials  on  the  cross  were    broken  in  the  course  of 
these  performances. 


GEDDINGTON.  7 

The  Rev.  J.  I\I.  Neale,  after  visiting  Geddington, 
wrote  : — 

In  sooth,  a  scene  of  England's  olden  time  ! 
The  summer  show'r  hath  pass'd,  but  all  the  air 
Is  fragrant  with  its  incense  ;   and  the  clouds, 
That  spread  their  white  sails  to  the  western  wind, — 
Rich  merchant-ships  of  Heav'n, — are  freighted  full 
With  ruby,  borrowed  of  the  setting  sun. 

*  *  *  * 

Around  the  Cross,  whose  sides  are  decked  with  wreaths 

Of  that  eternal  foliage,  which,  once  hewn 

From  that  grey  quarry,  nor  awakes  in  spring, 

Nor  fades  when  days  grow  short,  and  cold  winds  blow, 

The  parting  sunbeams  linger  :    and  above 

They  shed  a  cold  and  melancholy  light 

On  the  sweet  image  of  the  sainted  Queen. 

Welling  out  from  under  the  cross  is  a  beautiful 
stream  of  ever  running  water,  which  is  received  in 
cisterns  beneath  two  little  arches.  On  a  small  shield 
between  the  arches  is  the  inscription  : 

BUILT 

1769. 

RESTORED 
1868. 

The  cross  has  been  twice  repaired  ;  first  in  the 
year  1800,  when  the  steps  were  repaired  and  reset  ; 
and  secondly  in  September,  1890,  when  certain  repairs 
were  made  to  the  upper  part  of  the  cross  by  Messrs. 
Patrick  under  Sir  Arthur  Blomfield  :  on  each  occasion 
the  cost  was  defrayed  by  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch  and 
Queensberry,   K.T. 

Mai'ket  and  Fair. 

In  1248  the  King  ordered  that  a  market  should  be 
held    at   his    manor    of  Geddington    on    Wednesday  in 


8     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

every  week,  and  a  fair  on  the  eve,  day,  and  morrow 
of  St.  Mary  Magdalene  in  every  year  ;  and  the  Sheriff 
was  commanded  to  proclaim  the  same  throughout  the 
county. ^^ 

It  is  not  known  when  this  market  and  fair  were 
abandoned,  but  they  are  not  mentioned  by  Bridges  in 
his  History  of  Northamptonshire. 


NORTHAMPTON. 

Memorial    Cross. 

The  Northampton  cross,  which  is  really  in  the  parish 
of  Hardingston,  stands  about  a  mile  from  the  town,  by 
the  side  of  the  old  turnpike  road  leading  to  London. 
The  position  is  well  chosen,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill 
overlooking  the  Nene  valley  and  the  borough  of 
Northampton.  The  cross  consists  of  four  stories, 
diminishing  in  size  as  they  ascend,  the  whole  being 
mounted  on  a  flight  of  nine  (formerly  seven)  steps, 
octagonal  in  plan,  which  give  great  height  and  dignity 
to  the  structure.  The  lowest  story  is  octagonal  in  form, 
and  about  fourteen  feet  high,  each  angle  being  supported 
by  a  buttress,  and  each  side  divided  perpendicularly 
into  two  panels  beneath  a  pointed  pediment,  and  adorned 
with  sixteen  shields,  suspended  from  foliage  of  different 
patterns,  bearing  the  arms  of  England,  Castile,  and  Leon 
quarterly,  and  Ponthieu.  Each  alternate  face  is  further 
ornamented  with  an  open  book  supported  on  a  lectern. 
The  second  story,  twelve  feet  high,  appears  as  an 
octagon,  but  in  reality  it  is  formed  by  a  solid  pier  or 
shaft,  square  in  plan,  attached  to  each  side  of  which  is  an 
open  tabernacle  supported  by  slender  pillars,  vaulted  and 
canopied  with  purfled  gables  terminating  in  bouquets, 
and  pinnacles  of  very  graceful  design.      Under  each  of 

"^  The  Close  Rolls,  33  Hen.  HI.,  mem.  15. 


Rev^  CHHtiuhameJ)d.. 


ElLTSAWOm'S       iSl(.(®SS. 


NORTHAMPTON, 


these  stands  a  statue  of  Queen  Eleanor,  about  six  feet 
high,  which,  Hke  the  books  on  the  lower  story,  face  the 
cardinal  points  of  the  compass.  In  these  figures,  as 
Mr.  Hartshorne  well  said,  there  is  a  "  feeling  of  grace- 
fulness and  repose,"  and  "  nothing  but  serenity  and 
gentleness  of  soul  beams  in  the  soft  and  resigned  ex- 
pression "  of  the  features.'"  The  statues  show  a  great 
degree  of  artistic  taste  and  skill,  and  are  amongst  the 
most  beautiful  specimens  of  British  sculpture  we  possess. 
They  were  attributed  by   Flaxman  to   Pisano,    and    are 


undoubtedly  the  faithful  representations  of  Eleanor 
herself  Above  the  tabernacles  again  is  the  third  story, 
which  is  square  in  plan,  panelled,  and  each  side  adorned 
with  arches  containing  quatrefoils  in  their  points, 
surmounted  by  a  crocketed  gable.  Only  a  fragment 
remains  of  the  fourth  story,  and  even  this  is  not 
original.  It  is  not  and  probably  never  will  be  known 
what  originally  formed  the  summit. 

Before  the  restoration  of  the  cross  by  Mr.  Blore, 
about  1830,  the  shields  on  the  south  and  cast  bore 
the  arms  of  Ponthieu,   in    Picardy,   single,   and  those  of 


"  Hartshorne's  Historical  Memorials  of  NortltaiHpton. 


lo    STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Castile  and  Leon  quarterly  ;  on  the  north  Castile 
and  Leon  quarterly,  and  Eni^land  single  ;  and  on 
the  north-east  the  shields  England  and  Ponthieu,  each 
single  ;  the  arms  on  the  other  quarters  being  entirely 
obliterated  At  the  present  time  the  shields  on  the 
north,  north-east,  east,  and  south  are  as  described  ;  and 
the  shields  on  the  south-east  and  north-west  bear 
Ponthieu  single,  and  Castile  and  Leon  quarterly  ;  on  the 
south-west  the  shields  bear  Castile  and  Leon  quarterly, 
and  England  single  ;  and  on  the  west  the  shields  bear 
England  single,  and  Ponthieu  single.  It  is  worthy  of 
note  that  these  shields  of  Castile  and  Leon  are  the 
earliest  examples  of  shields  in  England  on  which  two 
distinct  heraldic  ensigns  are  marshalled  by  quartering, 
and  these  arms  were  first  adopted  by  Eleanor's  father, 
Ferdinand  III.,  on  the  union  of  Castile  and  Leon  under 
his  rule. 

The  architect  of  this  remarkably  beautiful  cross  was 
John  de  Bello  or  de  la  Bataille,  who  was  also  responsible 
for  the  crosses  at  Stony  Stratford,  Woburn,  Dunstable, 
and  St.  Albans,  all  these  being  erected  between  the 
years  1291  and  1294.  Alexander  of  Abingdon  and 
William  of  Ireland  were  the  sculptors  of  the  statues. 

This  cross  has  been  frequently  restored  since  it 
was  erected.  The  first  repairs  of  which  we  have  any 
record  were  those  done  in  1713.  Ihe  justices  ot  the 
county,  seeing  the  dilapidated  condition  of  the  building, 
considered  the  best  means  of  repairing  it.  On  turning 
to  the  records  of  Quarter  Sessions,  we  find  that  this 
question  was  considered  at  the  sessions  held  immediately 
after  St.  Thomas  Martyr  in  the  1  ith  year  of  Queen  Anne 
(January,  171 3)  ;  and  the  following  order  was  made  : 

"Ord'*  that  the  Treare  of  the  East  doe  pay  a  Sume  not  exceeding 
^30  towds  repfs  of  Queens  Crosse  to  be  laid  out  att  the  discreson  of 
M"^  Arundell  D''  Jocele  and  M""  John  Ekins  the  money  to  be  pd  to 
such  person  as  they  shall  appt  to  receive  ye  same." 


NORTHAMPTON. 


II 


The  cross  was  accordingly  thoroughly  restored  and 
probably  partially  rebuilt.  A  cross  pattee  three  feet 
high  was  erected  on  the  summit  facing  the  north  and 
south,    and    four    sundials    were    placed    on    the    upper 


S-fj/Z/yuniio/?!^  vicict//a  ^^iM:c}ti  mo^ . 


Story,    facing    the    cardinal    points,    with    the    following 
motto  : 


E.  "Ah  ortv  solis 

S.  "  lavdatvr  dominvs 

^V.  "  vsqve  ad  occasvm 

N.  "Amen.     MDCCXIII. 


12    STOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

These     mottoes    were    omitted    when    the    dials    were 
repainted  in   1762. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  lower  story  was  affixed  a 
shield  bearing  the  arms  of  Great  Britain  in  a  garter 
under  a  crown,  with  the  sword  and  sceptre  in  saltier 
behind,  the  motto  "  Semper  eadem  "  below,  and  palm 
branches  round  the  shield  to  form  mantling.  Below 
the  arms,  on  an  oblong  tablet  of  white  marble,  was 
the  following  inscription  : 

"  In  perpetuam  amoris  conjugalis  memoriam 

Hoc  Eleanorce  reginae  monumentum 

Vetustate  pene  collapsum  restaurari  voluit 

Honorabilis  Justiciariorum  caetus 

Comitatus  Northamptonire 

MDCCXIII 

Anno  illo  felicissimo 

In  quo  ANNA 

Grande  Britannise  suoe  decus, 

Potentissima  oppressorum  vindex, 

Pacis  bellique  arbitra, 

Post  Germaniam  liberatam, 

Belgian!  presidiis  munitam, 

Gallos  plus  vice  decima  profligatos, 

Suis  sociorumque  armis 

Vincendi  modum  statuit, 

Et  Europai  in  libertatem  vindicatce 

Pacem  restituit."^^ 

This  stone  and  the  shield  are  now  at  Mr.  Markham's 
house  at   Grendon. 

In  1762  further  repairs  were  made  which  were 
commemorated  by  a  shield  affixed  on  the  southern  side 
of  the  lower  storey,  inscribed  : 

"  Rursus  emendat  &  restaurat 

Georgh  III.  regis  2'' 

Domini  1762. 

N.  Baylis." 

The  next  restoration  took  place  in    1840,  when  Mr. 

'*  Bridges'  Northatupionshire,  Vol.  I.,  p.  358. 


NOR  THA  MPT  ON.  1 3 

Blore  renovated  the  structure,  removing  the  cross  pattee 
from  the  summit,  and  the  two  tablets  from  the  lower 
story.  At  the  same  time  one  of  the  gables  was 
entirely  renewed,  and  the  remainder  were  much  re- 
stored ;  the  shields,  with  the  exception  of  two,  were 
also  recut.  The  cresting  at  the  top  of  the  first  story 
was  almost  entirely  renovated,  and  a  broken  shaft 
placed  on  the  summit.^'^ 

But  a  short  time  elapsed  before  this  cross  again 
needed  repairs,  and  in  1884  a  committee  was  formed 
to  carry  these  out.  By  the  direction  of  the  committee, 
Mr.  Edmund  Law  made  a  careful  e.xamination  of  the 
building,  and  drew  up  a  very  full  report,  stating  that 
the  cross  was  in  fair  repair,  except  the  steps,  which 
required  entirely  replacing  with  new  stones.  The  steps, 
which  had  been  renewed  in  1762  in  local  stone,  were 
very  much  worn  and  partly  displaced,  so  that  the 
stability  of  the  structure  was  endangered.  A  subscrip- 
tion list  was  accordingly  opened,  to  which  her  late 
Majesty  Queen  Victoria  contributed  the  sum  of  ^20, 
and  the  foundations  were  made  secure,  and  new  steps 
of  a  harder  material  were  added. 

Only  a  few  years  ago  an  attempt  was  made 
to  insert  the  name  of  this  cross  in  the  schedule 
of  the  Act  for  the  Protection  of  Ancient  Monu- 
ments ;  but  the  attempt  failed,  because  the  cross  is 
not  similar  in  character  to  the  monuments  already 
scheduled. 

Since  then  the  question  of  protecting  and  pre- 
serving this  memorial  has  been,  on  more  than  one 
occasion,  considered  by  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions. 
The  difficulty,  however,  of  proving  to  whom  the  cross 
belonged  has,  until  recently,  prevented  anything  definite 
from   being  done. 

'^  Associated  Architectural  Societies   Reports,  WA.   VII.,   p.    119,  and  Vol 
XVIII.,  p.  136. 


14    STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTON  SHIRE. 

The  possible  claimants  were — 

(i)  The   Queen,   by   descent   from    the   builder  of 
the  cross. 

(2)  The    Lord    of    the     Manor,    as    claiming    the 

waste  by   the  side  of  the  road  on   which   it 
is  erected. 

(3)  The    County     Council,     as    representing    the 

the  public,  who  have   the  use   of  the  high- 
way, and    as   the  guardians    of  the    present 
main  road. 
None    of    these    three    has    ever    exercised    rights 
over    the    cross  ;    and,   with  the  exception  of  the  grant 
from     the    Quarter    Sessions    for    the    first    restoration, 
the    repairs    have    always    been     carried     out    by    sub- 
scription. 

In  order  that  the  cross  should  be  vested  absolutely 
in  the  County  Council,  negotiations  were  opened  with 
the  Government  on  behalf  of  the  Crown  ;  and  on  the 
26th  July,  1897,  the  Right  Hon.  A.  Akers-Douglas 
wrote  to  Mr.  E.  P.  Monckton,  M.P.,  that  "  neither  the 
Crown  nor  the  Office  of  Works  has  any  rights  over 
Queen  Eleanor's  cross  at  Northampton."  Negotiations 
were  then  opened  with  the  trustees  of  the  Bouverie 
estate,  on  behalf  of  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  ;  and  by  in- 
denture dated  the  29th  day  of  March,  1900,  the  trustees 
gratuitously  conveyed  to  the  County  Council  all  their 
estate  and  interest  (if  any)  in  this  beautiful  cross,  and 
also  the  ground  on  which  it  stands,  subject  to  the 
County  Council  undertaking  to  keep  the  structure  in 
repair. 

APETHORP. 

The  little  village  of  Apethorp  is  six  miles  from 
Oundle,  and  two  miles  from  King's  Cliffe  Station  on 
the  London  and   North  Western   Railway. 


APETHORP. 


15 


Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  churchyard  a  handsome  cross  still  stands  in 
its  original  position,  south-east  of  the  south  door  ot'^ 
the  church.  The  socket  is 
very  massive,  square  below, 
and  octagon  above,  the 
angles  being  bevelled  off 
and  ornamented  with  well- 
cut  roll  mouldings.  The 
shaft  is  oblong  in  section, 
and  is  also  ornamented  with 
roll  mouldings  at  the  angles  ; 
it  has  unfortunately  been 
broken  off  In  the  church 
there  is  a  fragment  of  the 
shaft. 

The  design  of  this  cross  ^ 
is  early  in  character,  and  it 
probably    was    made    in   the 
twelfth  century.  apethorp. 


Measurements. 


SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square  at  foot. 

ft.        in. 
I         3 

ft.        in. 
2          8 

ft.         in. 
3           « 

ft.      in. 
0        II 

X 

0         9^ 

AYNHO. 

The  village  of  Aynho  is  six  and  a  half  miles  from 
Brackley,  and  half  a  mile  from  Aynho  station  on  the 
Great  Western   Railway. 


i6    SrONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Market  Cross 

In  the  seventeenth  year  of  Edward  II.  (1323-4)  John 
de  Clavering  was  lord  of  the  manor  of  "  Eynho,"  and 
obtained  the  King's  charter  for  a  weekly  mercate,  or 
market,  to  be  held  every  Tuesday, "^  and  a  yearly  fair 
•on  the  vigil  and  day  of  St.  Michael  and  two  days 
following. 

This  market  was  continued  until  the  twentieth  year 
of  James  I.  (1622-3),  when  Richard  Cartwright  obtained 
a  new  charter  for  holding  the  market  and  fair,  with 
the  addition  of  another  yearly  fair  on  the  Monday  and 
Tuesday  after  Pentecost.-^ 

Bridges,  however,  writing  about  1700,  says  that 
the  market  had  been  discontinued  for  some  sixty  years, 
and  that  the  market  cross  had  been  then  long  since 
taken  down."  Since  then  the  fairs  have  also  sunk 
into  desuetude. 

BADBY. 

The  village  of  Badby  is  three  miles  from  the  town 
•and  station  of  Daventry,  on  the  London  and  North 
Western   Railway. 

Village    Cross. 

The  base  of  the  village  cross  still  remains  on  the 
green.  It  is  of  red  sandstone,  and  is  locally  known  by 
the  name  of"  The  Stocks,"  no  doubt  because  the  stocks 
stood  near,  perhaps  being  actually  fastened  to  the  socket, 
as  there  are  three  holes  on  its  upper  surface.  This 
stone  measures  2  ft.  2  in.  square  and  i  ft.  7  in.  high. 
71ie  mortise-hole  is  i  ft.  4  in.  square  and  10  in.  deep. 

-"  'S>x\^g'e:z'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  L,  p.  135. 
-'  Baker's  NortJiamptoiishirc,  Vol.  L,  p.  550. 
"*  Bridges'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  I.,  p.  137. 


BAINTON. 


17 


BAINTON. 

The  village  of  Bainton  is  five  miles  from  Stamford, 
and  one  mile  from  Barnack  station  on  the  Great 
Northern   Railway. 

Village  Cross. 

This  cross,  which  stands  near  the  church,  consists 
of  four    steep  steps,  a    socket,   and   part    of  the    shaft. 


BAINTON. 


The  steps  are  bold  and  handsome,  and  are  composed 
of  large  stones.  The  socket  is  square  in  plan,  and 
worked  to  an  octagon  by  bold  convex  broaches.  Only 
a  small  piece  of  the  shaft  remains  ;  it  is  octagonal,  with 
broaches  at  the  corners,  and  an  ancient  stone  ball  has 
been  fixed  on  the  top. 

A  portion  of  the  old  stocks,  which  served  as  a 
whipping-post,   stands  in   tront  of  the  cross. 

Worked  into  the  basement  of  this  cross  is  a  stone 


1 8    STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

3  ft.  I  in.  long,  lo  in.  deep, 
L-  and  9  in.  thick.  This  is 
certainly  Norman,  and  was  pro- 
bably a  portion  of  a  cross  shaft. 
Within  a  flat  band  on  each  side 

there  is  the  characteristic  zig-zag  moulding,   and  at  one 

end  the  nail-head  ornament. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Basement     ... 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 
4th  step 

ft.    in. 
2     6 
I     10 

I     8 
I     6 

ft.   in. 

II    II 

10     3 

8     2 

5  10 

ft.    in. 
I       2  1 

I     3  " 

I     4; 

ft.    in. 
I      9 

ft.   in. 
3      2 

X 

3     4 

ft.    in. 
I      6 

ft.   in. 
I     0 

There  is  no   record   of  a   market   havin^  been   held 


at  this  village. 


BARNACK. 

The  village  of  Barnack  is  four  miles  from  Stamford, 
and  is  close  to  Barnack  station  on  the  Great  Northern 
Railway. 

Bridges  mentions  that  "In  Barnack  fields  were 
formerly  many  croffes  erected ;  of  four  or  five  the 
foundation  ftones  are  ftill  to  be  feen,  particularly  in 
meadow  field  towards  Uffington,  and  at  the  corner 
of  Lord  Exeter  s  park  wall ;  and  thofe  of  others 
have  been  dug  up  and  carried  away,  and  not  the 
leafl;   mark   left  where  they   flood."  -'^ 

Churchyard  Crosses. 

The  most  ancient  and  interesting  church  of  Barnack 
contains  portions  of  several  crosses. 

-■'  Bridges'  Northa7nptonshirc,  Vol.  H.,  p.  490. 


BARNACK.  19 

Built  into  the  tower,  on  the  outside,  in  the  upper 
part  over  the  string  course,  are  three  short  columns, 
which  probably  formed  the  shafts  of  three  crosses. 

This  tower  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  typical 
specimens  of  Saxon  architecture  in  England ;  and  as 
these  columns  are  supposed  to  have  been  built  into  the 
tower  when  it  was  erected,  the  period  when  they  formed 
independent  crosses  must  be  very  remote,  always  pro- 
vided that  our  conjecture  of  these  stones  having  been 
used  as  crosses  is  correct. 

The  first  of  these  stones  is  placed  immediately  below 
the  clock,  on  the  south  side.  It  is  ornamented  with  a 
growing  stem,  branching  on  each  side  with  leaves 
and  bunches  of  grapes  of  an  elegant  pattern  ;  it  is 
surmounted  by  a  cock,  erect  and  vigilant. 

The  second  is  placed  in  a  similar  position  on  the 
west  side.  It  is  much  the  same  in  design,  but  somewhat 
more  simple,  and  it  is  surmounted  by  an  eagle,  looking 
backwards. 

The  third  is  placed  in  a  similar  position  on  the 
north  side.  It  is  like  the  other  two  ;  the  bird  at  the 
summit  is,  however,  bending  over  to  peck  the  grapes. 

The  carving  of  these  stones  is  somewhat  rude,  and 
the  relief  is  low.  The  ornamentation  is  Early  English 
in  character,  but  the  late  Mr.  J.  T.  Irvine  considered 
that  the  stones  are  Anglo-Saxon,  and  not  later  insertions 
in  the  tower.  It  appears  to  the  writer,  however,  that 
they  are  of  much  later  date. 

In  the  west  wall  of  the  tower  inside  a  small  piece 
of  a  Saxon  cross  shaft  is  built  horizontally.  This  is 
carved  with  a  plait  of  four  bands,  which  cross  each 
other  quite  regularly. 

Churchyard   Cross. 

In  the  garden  immediately  in  front  of  the  Rectory 
there    is  a  very   beautiful   and   uncommon  cross,   which 


20    STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


stood  in  the  churchyard  and  was 
moved  to  its  present  position  some 
few  years  ago. 

The  base  and  shaft  are  the  only 
original  parts  ;  the  top  is  modern 
and  carries  a  small  sundial,  but  it 
does  not  harmonise  with  the  lower 
portion. 

The  design  of  this  cross  is 
very  good,  and  date  of  it  is  about 
1300. 


Measurements. 


SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

ft.      in. 
I        8 

ft.       in. 
I         I 

ft.       in 
I       8 

ft.      in. 

0       10 

ft.      in. 
0       6 

ft.     in. 
2       0 

BLISWORTH. 

The  considerable  village  of  Blisworth  is  four  and 
a  half  miles  from  Northampton,  and  one  mile  from 
Blisworth  Junction  station  on  the  London  and  North 
Western   Railway. 

Churchyard    Cro.ss. 

The  base  of  this  cross  stands  in  the  churchyard,  by 
the  path  leading  to  the  north  door. 

It  consists  of  a  calvary  of  four  steps,  and  a  socket. 
It  is  exceedingly  plain,  and  has  no  mouldings  of  any 
kind.  The  socket  is  made  of  two  equal  pieces,  fastened 
together  with  iron  cramps.  At  some  period,  probably 
during  the  present  century,  a  sundial  was  erected  on  the 


BLISWORTH. 


21 


BLISWORTH. 


summit  of  these  steps;  this   was  in  existence  in    1843, 
but  has  since  then  perished. 


Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Basement 
2nd  step 

3rd  step        

4th  step         

ft.     in. 

I      7 
0     9 
0     7 
0   10 

ft.    in. 

7    0 
5    0 
3     6 

2      4 

ft.    in. 
I       O^ 

0     9    1 

0     7 
02; 

ft.    in. 
0    10 

ft.  in. 

2     0 

BODDINGTON,    UPPER. 

The  village  of  Upper  Boddington  is  nine  miles 
from  Daventry,  and  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Byfield 
station  on  the   East  and  West  Junction   Railway. 

Churchyard    Cross. 

In  the  churchyard,  to  the  south-east  of  the  chancel 
of  this  church,  are  the  remains  of  a  good  cross.     These 


22    STOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

consist    of  two    steps,   a  socket,    and   a   small   piece  of 

shaft. 

The  lower  step  is  square,  quite  plain,  and  composed 

of  large  stones.  The 
second  step  is  made 
out  of  one  stone  ;  it 
is  somewhat  thin,  and 
has  the  upper  edge 
bevelled.  The  sock- 
et is  square  below, 
worked  to  an  octagon 
by  large  convex  stops, 
and  fixed  in  the 
upper   step    by    lead. 

The   piece   of  shaft   is   square   where  it  is  fixed   in  the 

socket   by  lead,  and  is  also  worked   to    an    octagon  by 

plain  broaches. 

Measurements. 


BODDINGTOX. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET.         1           SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each  face 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face.    Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Basement    ... 
2nd  step 

ft.    in. 

I      5 
O    lO 

ft.    in. 
5    II 
3     4 

ft.    in. 

0  81 

1  4/ 

ft.    in. 
O     9 

ft.    in.         ft.    in. 
2     O           O   II 

ft.    in. 
O   lO 

BOUGHTON. 

Although  not  quite  germain  to  the  subject  of  crosses, 
perhaps  I  may  be  allowed  to  mention  the  monument 
now  standing  in  Boughton  parish.  This  is  not  a  true 
obelisk,  for  though  in  the  form  of  one,  it  is  constructed 
of  a  number  of  quite  small  stones.  It  formerly  bore 
the  following  inscription,  the  verse  being  from  Pope's 
Essay  on  Man,   Epistle  IV.  : 


BOUGHT  ON. 


n 


"This  Obelisk  was   erected  in   the  year   1764  in  memory  of  His 
Grace  William  Cavendish  Duke  of  Devonshire. 
There  in  the  Rich 
The  Honour'd  Fam'd 

and  Great, 
See  the  false  scale 
Of  Happiness 

Compleat ! " 

The  occupier  of  the  farm  on  which  this  memoriril 
stands  had  so  much  trouble  from  persons  trespassing 
to  read  the  inscription  that 
he  erased  it. 

This  Duke,  as  a  young 
man,  read  with  one  of  the 
incumbents  of  Boughton, 
and  for  this  reason  the 
monument  was  erected. 


S)/  // 


BOUGHTON. 


Fair. 

In  this  parish  a  fair, 
widely  known  and  cele- 
brated as  Boughton  Green 
Fair,  has  been  held  from 
time  immemorial. 

There      is      a      famous 
spring    in    the   old    church- 
yard adjoining   the  green,  and  both  spring  and  church 
are  dedicated  to  Saint  John  the   Baptist. 

These  circumstances  point  to  this  fair  being  a 
very  ancient  one  ;  but  whenever  it  originated,  the 
charter,  dated  28th  February,  25th  Edward  III.  (1351), 
granted  and  confirmed  to  Sir  Henry  Green  and  his 
heirs  for  ever  a  yearly  fair  at  his  manor  of  "  Buckton," 
with  all  liberties  and  free  customs  incident  thereto,  for 
three  days,  namely  on  the  vigil,  day,  and  morrow  of 
the  Nativity  of  Saint  John  the  Baptist."^ 

^'  Baker's  NorthamptonsJiirc,  Vol.  I.,  p.  36. 


24    STOXE   CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


BOZEAT. 

The  large  village  of  Bozeat  is  six  miles  from  the 
town  and  five  miles  from  the  London  and  North 
Western    Railway  station  of  Wellingborough. 

CiiURciivAKD    Cross. 

At  this  village  "  an  house  and  eight  acres  of  land, 
were  formerlv  fj^iven  to  maintain  a  cross,  standing,  as 
reported  in  the  churchyard  "  ;  -''  but  even  when  Bridges 
wrote,  at  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  he  stated  that 
the  profits  of  the  charity  were  then  applied  to  the  repairs 
of  the  church.  This  charity  is  not  mentioned  by  the 
Royal    Commissioners."'' 


BRACKLEY. 

The  ancient  borough  of  Brackley  stands  on  the 
southern  border  of  the  county,  and  contains  two  stations, 
one  on  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway,  the 
other  on  the  Great  Central  Railway. 

Market  and  Churchvard  Crosses. 

Leland  states  that  "  There  were  3  goodly  Crossis 
of  stone  in  the  Towne,  one  by  Southe  at  the  Ende  of 
the  Towne,  throwne  down  a  late  by  Theves  that  fowght 
for  Treasure.  A  nothar  at  the  West  End  of  Seint 
Janiis  Churche.  The  third  very  antique,  faire  and 
costly,  in  the  inward  parte  of  the  High  Streate.  Ther 
be  dyvers   Tabernacles   in    this,   with    Ladys    and    Men 

-•'  Bridges'  NorthamptonsJiire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  i6i. 

-"   Commissioners     Reports   on    Charities,    "Northampton,"   Vol.    XXI V^ 
Printed   1815-39. 


BRACKLEY.  25 

armyd.  Sum  say  that  the  Staplears  of  the  Towne 
made  this  ;  but  I  thinke  rathar  Some  Noble  Man  Lord 
of  the  Towne."  "'  This  last  mentioned  cross  was  about 
twenty-eight  feet  in  height,  with  an  octagonal  pillar 
in  the  midst,  having  images  on  each.  It  was  taken 
down  about  the  year  1 706,  to  make  way  for  the  town 
hall,  which  is  built  upon  part  of  the  ground  where  this 
cross  stood. "^ 

Market  and  Fairs. 

In  the  third  year  of  Edward  III.  [1329-30]  a  writ 
was  made  out  against  Maud,  the  widow  of  Robert  de 
Holand,  to  show  cause  why  she  claimed  to  hold  a 
market  at  Brackley  on  Wednesday,  and  a  fair  on  the 
vigil,  day,  and  morrow  of  Saint  Andrew  ;  and  she  sub- 
stantiated her  claim  to  this  privilege,"'' 

The  charter  of  incorporation  of  James  II.  regranted 
the  Wednesday  market  and  the  Saint  Andrew's  fair,  with 
additional  ones  on  the  Wednesday  in  Easter  week,  on 
St.  Barnabas'  day,  or  on  the  morrow  if  that  day  was 
a  Sunday,  and  the  Wednesday  before   Michaelmas  day.^*^ 

In  1800  fairs  in  Brackley  were  held  on  the 
Wednesday  after  25th  February,  third  Saturday  in 
April,  the  Wednesday  after  the  22nd  June,  the 
Wednesday  before  the  loth  October,  and  the  iith 
December.^^ 

The  market  is  still  held  on  every  alternate  Wednesday. 
Two  fairs  are  now  held,  one  a  wool  fair  the  third  week 
in  June,  and  the  other  called  the  "Old  Fair"  on  the 
iith   December. 

^''  Leland's  I/incrary,  Vol.  VII.,  fol.  10. 

-^  Bridges'  Nortliamptoiisliirc,  Vol.  I.,  p.  143. 

"  /^/^_^  p    ,_^7 

^"  Baker's  No7'thampto7ishirc ,  Vol.  I.,  p.  574. 

^'  VitX's  Agriculture  of  the  County  of  Northainpton,  1809,  p.  237. 


26    STOXE   CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


BRAMPTON,  CHURCH. 

The  village  of  Church  Bnimpton  is  five  miles  from 
Northampton,  and  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Pitsford 
and  Brampton  station  on  the  London  and  North 
Western   Railway. 

Church VARD  Cross. 

In  this  churchyard,  to  the  south-east  of  the  south 
porch,  is  a  portion  of  a  well-designed  churchyard  cross. 

Only  the  socket  and  a  small  piece  of  the  shaft  now 
remain.  The  socket  is  square,  with  the  angles  of  the 
upper  bed  stopped  by  broaches,  so 
that  the  upper  surface  is  octagonal, 
with  moulded  edges.  It  measures 
I  ft.  3  in.  high,  and  3  ft.  i  in.  across. 
The  shaft  tapers  slightly ;  it  is  oc- 
tagonal the  lower  part  being  square, 
and  is  now  only  2  ft.  10  in.  high. 
This    cross    is    similar    to,    but    on    a 

ERAMrXON. 

smaller  scale  than,  the  one  at  Spratton. 
There  is   also  in  the  churchyard  a  stone,  now  con- 
siderably perished,  which    perhaps  formed    the   head  of 
this  cross.      It  is   i  ft.  5  in.  square,  and   i   ft.  high,  and 
is  formed  with  four  litde  gables  filled  in  with  tracery. 


^Al 


BRAUNSTON. 

The  village  of  Braunston  is  three  miles  from  Daventry, 
with  a  station  in  the  village  on  the  London  and  North 
Western  Railway. 

Village  Cross. 

Bridges,  writing  about  the  year  1600,  states  that 
"  Towards    the    upper    end  of  this  town,  on  the  south 


BRAUNSTON.  27 

side  is  a  remarkable  cross,  about  24  ft.  in  height. 
From  the  base  it  ascends  by  four  steps,  on  the  upper- 
most of  which  is  fixed  the  shaft,  of  an  octagonal  form, 
II  ft.  4  in.  high  and  consisting  of  one  piece  of  stone. 
The  capital  which  is  in  the  Gothic  manner  hath  on  four 
of  its  angles  small  bustos  supposed  to  be  the  head  of  the 
Virgin  Maryy  ^"  This  interesting  record  of  a  past  time 
was  razed  to  the  ground  about  i  780,  and  the  materials 
applied  to  the  repair  of  the  highways. ^^ 

BRIGSTOCK. 

The  village  of  Brigstock  is  eight  miles  from  Kettering 
and  the  same  distance  from  Oundle,  and  five  miles  from 
Geddington  station  on  the  Midland  Railway,  and  the 
same  distance  from  Thrapston  station  on  the  London 
and   North  Western   Railway. 

Market  Cross. 

In  the  centre  of  this  ancient  and  once  important 
village,  on  a  place  called  Hall  Hill,  stands  the  old 
market  cross.  The  base  of  this  is  formed  by  three 
square  steps  of  unequal  height  ;  they  are  uneven  and 
much  worn,  and  are  surrounded  by  a  square  of  pitching. 
The  socket  is  square  and  is  i-rregularly  splayed,  forming 
four  steps  at  the  corners.  The  shaft  is  square  ;  the 
angles  are  splayed  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length, 
becoming  square  again  at  the  top.  It  is  joined  to  the 
socket  with  lead.  The  head  is  formed  by  an  ovolo 
moulding,  enriched  with  ^^^  and  tongue  pattern.  It 
is  connected  with  the  shaft  by  a  small  bead  and  fillet ; 
above  is  a  square  block,  on  each  face  of  which  is  a 
well-shaped  shield,  each  shield  surmounted  by  a  ducal 
coronet.      Above  these  again   is  a  little  square  truncated 

3-  Bridges'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  I.,  p.  31. 
33  Baker's  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  I.,  p.  272. 


28    STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

pyramid,  supporting  a  sphere,  into  which  is  inserted  a 
square  twisted  iron  rod,  round  which  revolves  a  weather 
vane.     The  shields  are   engraved   cis  follows  :  The  one 


-  .  'v«si; 


BRIGSTOCK. 


on  the  south  is — Quarterly  i  and  4  three  Jieur  de  lys, 
France  Modern;  2  and  t^  tlwee  lions  passant  guardant 
in  pale,  England.  Those  on  the  east  and  west  bear 
"  E.  R.  1586";  and  the  one  on  the  north  also  bears 
-iirms    much    defaced,    which    were    probably    similar    to 


BRIGSTOCK. 


29- 


those  on  the  south.  Near  the  summit  of  the  shaft  the 
following  letters  are  cut  :  on  the  south,  "  I.  W.  1778  "  ;. 
on  the  east  and  west,  "  A.  R.  1705  "  ;  and  on  the  north,. 
"  R.  H.  V.  R.  1887  Anno  Regni  50." 

This  cross  is  stated  by  Bridges  ^^  to  have  been  erected 
in  1586,  the  earliest  inscribed  date  ;  and  the  style,  which 
is  certainly  Renaissance,  is  consistent  with  this  statement, 
although  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  steps  are  of 
yet  earlier  workmanship. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 
4th  step 

ft.  in. 
I      0 

I     3 
0  10 
0    8i 

ft.  in. 
II      0 

8     3 
6    0 

3  10 

ft.  in. 

14II 
I    Ii[ 

I  7    j 

ft.  in. 
2      0 

ft.  in. 
2     3 

ft.  in. 

5    8 

ft.  in. 
I  4i 

ft.  in. 

4     4 

ft.  in. 
I      3 

Market  and  Fairs. 

The  weekly  market  on  Saturday  here  was  granted 
in  the  sixth  year  of  Edward  IV.  (1466-7),  together  with 
fairs  on  Saint  George's  day  (23rd  April),  and  on  the 
festival  of  Saint  Martin.  In  Bridges'  time  the  market 
was  held  on  Thursday,  with  fairs  on  the  festivals  of 
Saint  Mark,  Saint  Bartholomew,  and  Saint  Martin."" 

In  1800  fairs  were  held  on  the  6th  May,  the  5th 
September,  and  the  22nd  November. 

Fairs  are  now  held  on  the  25th  April,  4th  September, 
and   22nd   November. 

Boundary  Stone. 
On  the   boundary   of  Brigstock    Forest,   some    halt- 
mile   from   the   villaore,    stands    an   ancient    stone   called 


^*  Bridges'  NortJiamptonsliirc,  Vol.  II.,  p.  284. 
35  Ibid.,  p.  285. 


30    STOXE    CROSSES    OF  NORTH AMPTOXSHIRE. 


Bocase  Stone.      It    is    of  Raundes   or  Stanwick   stone, 
3  ft.   9  in.   high  and   i    ft.   9   in.  wide,  the  front  of  it  is 

smooth,     and     on     the 


upper 

part      are 

the 

words, 

in 

well 

-cut 

letters  : 

(( 

In  th 

IS  plaes 

grew 

bocase 

tree  "  ; 

and     just 

above 

the 

ground 

are 

the   w 

ords, 

roughly 

cut 

mk^^ 


'Mmm 


"  Here  stood 
bocase 
tree." 


Much 
speculation 


BRIGSTOCK. 


interesting 
as  to  the 
tree  from  which  this 
stone  took  its  name 
will  be  found  in  N'otes  and  Queries^''  though  no  doubt 
it  was  simply  one  of  the  forest  boundaries.  Further 
references  to  this  stone  will  be  found  in  The  Family  of 
Brocas,  of  Beaurepaire,  by  M.  Burrows. 


BRINGTON,  GREAT. 

The  village  of  Great  Brington  is  seven  miles  from 
Northampton,  and  one  mile  from  Althorp  station  on 
the  London  and  North  Western   Railway. 

Village  Cross. 

The  cross  at  this  village  stands  under  a  large  elm 
tree,  to  the  south-west  of  the  church,  forming  a  pleasant 
feature  in  the  landscape. 

^^  Second  Series,  \'ul.  \'III.,  p.  498,  and  \'oI.  IX.,  p.  274. 


BRINGTOX,    GREAT. 


31 


The  calvary  consists  of  three  octagonal  steps,  the 
lower  one  having  a  slight  set-back  a  foot  below  the 
upper  edge.  The  socket  is  square  below,  and  worked 
to  an  irregular  octagon  by  plain  broaches,  the  upper  edge 
being  bevelled.  The  shaft  is  likewise  square  below, 
and  worked  to  an  octagon  by  plain  broaches.  For  the 
first  seventeen   inches   the    sides    are    flat,   and   for    the 


BRINGTON. 


remainder  they  are  slightly  hollowed.  The  shaft  is 
composed  of  two  pieces,  which  are  joined  in  the  centre 
by  four  unsightly  iron  cramps,  the  lower  piece  being 
set  with  lead.  The  capital  is  Decorated  in  character, 
with  two  plain  beads  where  it  joins  the  shaft,  the  upper 
portion  overhanging  to  form  a  drip.  Above  this  is  a 
broken  piece  of  octagonal  column,  much  smaller  than 
the  shaft.  In  the  picture  of  this  church  and  cross 
engraved  in  our  county  history  ^'   the   column   is  repre- 

^'  Baker's  Nortltaniptunsliin',  \'ol.  I.,  p.  90. 


32    STOXE   CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

serited  as  being  surmounted  by  a  second  deep  cylindrical 
capital,  but  this  has  since  then  been  destroyed. 

Me.^surements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFr. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 

ft.  in. 
2     9 
I      I 
0    8 

ft.  in. 

4    3 
3     4 
2     3 

ft.  in. 

0  10^ 

1  13- 
I      2] 

ft.  in. 
I      6 

ft.  in. 
3      2 

ft.  in. 
9     6 

ft.  in. 
I      7 

ft.  in. 
I      9 

ft.  in. 
2    10 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  market  was  held  at  this 


village. 


BRIXWORTH. 

The  village  of  Brixworth  is  seven  miles  from  North- 
ampton, and  one  mile  from  Brixworth  station,  and 
about  the  same  distance  from  Spratton  station  both 
on  the  London  and   North  Western   Railway. 

Churchyard  Crcss. 

In  the  garden  of  Brixworth  Vicarage,  to  the  north- 
west of  the  house,   a  portion  of  the   shaft  of  a  Saxon 
cross  of  red    sandstone    was   found   in 

1897.    ... 

This  is  a  tapering  shaft  2  ft.  8^  in. 
long  ;  at  the  foot  it  is  i  ft.  2^  in.  by 
ii-|    in.,    and    at    the    top    ii^    in.    by 

It  has  been  broken  off,  the  fracture 
destroying  a  great  part  of  the  carving, 
which  consists  of  a  panel,  in  which  is 
a  representation  of  an  animal  with 
long  legs  and  slight  body,  not  unlike 
a  greyhound.  Both  the  hind  legs  and 
the    left    fore   leo^   are    on    the    around,    and    the    ri^ht 


BRI.WVORTH. 


BRIXWORTH. 


II 


fore  leg  is  raised  horizontally.  The  tail  bends  down 
between  the  hind  legs,  forming  a  curve  under  the 
belly,  and  another  curve  the  contrary  way  between 
the  fore  legs,  and  then  passing  upwards.  The  head 
the  animal  has,  unfortunately,  been  destroyed. 

At  the  top  there  is  a  square  dowel  hole,  where 
another  stone  was  probably  fixed. 

The  ornamentation  of  this  cross  is  very  similar  to 
that  at  Gosforth,   in  Cumberland. 


Market  Cross. 

This  is  a  good  example  of  a  small  market  cross, 
standing  in  the  centre  of  the  village,  near  the  church. 
It  has  a  calvary  of  four 
irregular  octagonal  steps, 
made  of  large  stones.  The 
socket  is  rectangular  ;  the 
north  and  south  sides  are 
slightly  longer  than  those 
on  the  east  and  west. 
Round  each  face  are  angu- 
lar incised  lines,  deeply 
graved,  and  on  the  northern 
side  is  the  date  1727,  in 
commemoration  of  the 
accession  of  George  II. 
The  stump  of  the  original 

shaft  only  remains,  nearly  two  feet  high  ;  it  has  been 
set  in  lead,  and  on  each  side  is  a  deep  vertical  groove. 
The  steps  and  piece  of  shaft  are  of  native  ironstone  ; 
the  former,  however,  becoming  dilapidated,  the  joints  of 
the  masonry  were  so  plastered  up  with  cement  that  the 
individual  stones  cannot  now  be  seen.  This  process 
has  much  destroyed  the  picturesque  appearance  of  the 
structure. 

In    this    parish     there     were     three    manors,    which 

3 


BRIXWORTH. 


34     STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Bridges  states  were  held  jointly,  and  also  that  the 
court  for  these  manors  was  held  at  the  cross. '*^  Late 
thirteenth  century. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Basement 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 
4th  step 

ft.   in. 
2      0 

0  10 

0      7 
0      4 

ft.   in. 
4     7 
3     4 
2     8 

I     9 

ft.    in. 
I       2^ 
I        I  1 

I     of 

0    10  J 

ft.   in. 
I      4 

ft.   in. 
2     4 

ft.  in. 
I    II 

ft.    in. 
0    II 

Market  and  Fair. 

Simon  FitzSimon,  in  the  fifty-third  year  of  Henry  III. 
(1268-9),  obtained  a  charter  for  holding  a  weekly  market 
here  on  Tuesday  ;  and  an  annual  fair  for  three  days, 
beginning  on  the  eve  of  Saint  Boniface. ^^  It  is  not 
known  when  this  market  was  discontinued,  but  it  has 
probably  not  been  held  for  several  centuries. 

In  1800  the  fair  was  held  Whit  Monday,  but  it  is 
now  held  on  the  5th  June. 


BYFIELD. 

The  village  of  Byfield  is  seven  miles  from  Daventry, 
with  a  station  in  the  village  on  the  East  and  West 
Junction    Railway. 

Market  Cross. 

In  the  centre  of  this  village,  under  a  spreading  elm 
tree,  so  close  to  it,  indeed,  that  the  roots  of  the  tree 
have  almost  overturned  it,  is  the  market  cross.  Only 
the  socket  and  a  small  piece  of  the  shaft  now  remain^ 
but  the  first   of  these  is  of  most  unusual  form. 

•^*  Bridges'  Nortliamptonshirc,  Vol.  II.,  p.  Si. 
39  Ibid.,  p.  82. 


B  Y FIELD. 


35 


This  socket  is  cut  out  of  a  single  block  of  native 
ironstone.  It  is  2  ft.  7  in.  square  at  the  base,  and  the 
full  height  is  2  ft.  2  in. 
Three  inches  above  the 
ground  the  size  of  the 
stone  is  reduced  by  a 
hollowed  curve,  above 
which  is  a  plain  bead 
moulding.  At  the  height 
of  I  ft.  8  in.  from  the 
ground  are  bold  convex 
stops,  by  means  of  which 
the  upper  surface  becomes 
octagonal.  In  the  centre 
is    the   remaining  portion  byfield. 

of  the  shaft,  square  where 

it  fits  the  socket,  and  becoming  octagonal  by  plain 
broaches.  It  is  9  in.  square  and  i  ft.  5  in.  high,  and 
is  fixed  in  the  socket  with  lead.      Thirteenth  Century. 

Market. 

For  the  last  fifteen  or  twenty  years  a  stock  sale  has 
been  held  here  every  Tuesday  fortnight.  This  is  not 
held  under  a  charter,  but  is  well  attended,  forms 
practically  a  market,   and  goes  by  that  name. 

There  are  no  statutable  fairs  here,  except  a  horse 
fair,  held  in  September  each  year. 


CASTOR, 

The  village  of  Castor  is  four  miles  from  Peter- 
borough, and  one  mile  from  Castor  station  on  the 
London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

The  church  here  is  dedicated  to  Saint  Kyneburga, 
the  sister  of  Peada,  the  last  heathen  King  of  Mercia, 
and  thus  goes  back  to  very  remote  times. 


36     STOXE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Churchyard   Cross. 

In  the  churchyard  is  an  interesting  specimen  of 
Saxon  work,  consisting  of  the  base  of  a  cross.  On 
a  step  2  ft.  9  in.  square  the  base  is  fixed  ;  it  is  made 
of  Barnack  stone,  and  is  of  rectangular  section.  At 
the  bottom  there  is  a  pHnth  measuring  i  ft.  9  in.  by 
I  ft.  Above  this  comes  the  contracted  part,  measuring 
I   ft.  8  in.  by   11^  in.  ;  and  at  the   top  again   it  expands 


to  I  ft.  10^  in.  by  i  ft.  2  in.  A  socket  i  ft.  i  in.  by 
7-I  in.  is  hollowed  out  at  the  top  to  receive  a  shaft. 
The  height  of  this  socket  is  2  ft.  2  in.,  and  at  each  of 
the  four  corners  at  the  top  are  round  projections. 

This  stone  was  apparently  a  Roman  altar,  wrought 
by  the  Saxons,  with  characteristic  interlacing  pattern  ; 
and  it  forms  a  good  example  of  the  way  in  which  the 
Christians  utilised  the  heathen  monuments. 

This  stone  has  perished  a  good  deal,  and  the  design 
is  not  very  distinct  in  places. 


CASTOR.  37 

On  the  north  side  the  interlacing  work  is  very 
irregular,  and  the  crossing  ov^er  and  under  are  not 
accurately  arranged. 

On  the  east  side  is  a  draq^on  or  monster,  with  his  tail 
worked  into  an  elaborate  knot,  looking  backwards. 

On  the  south  side  there  are  two  panels,  with  some 
interlacing  pattern  which  is  much  obliterated. 

x^nd  on  the  west  is  carved  a  similar  dragon  or 
monster,  with  his  tail  also  worked  into  a  perfect  knot, 
looking  forwards. 

Wayside  Cross. 

At  the  corner  of  one  of  the  streets  in  this  village,  to 
the  west  of  the  church,  is  the  base  and  stump  of  the 
shaft  of  a  small  village  or  roadside 
cross.  The  socket  is  square,  with 
angles  formed  by  a  roll  ;  it  is  about 
I  ft.  high  and  2  ft.  3  in.  square. 
The  shaft  is  about  12  in.  high,  and 
oblong     in     plan,     being     15    in.     by  castor. 

']\  in.  ;  the  angles  are  also  chamfered  : 
it  is  quite  loose  in  the  socket.     The  whole  is  very  rough 
in  workmanship,   has  been  much  injured,  and  probably 
moved.      It  may  be  of  the  twelfth  century. 

Wayside  Cross. 
To  the  east  of  Castor,  where  the  old  Roman  road, 
which  goes  by  Milton,  left  the  Peterborough  road,  there 
is  part  of  another  old  cross.  This  is  2  ft.  6  in.  high, 
I  ft.  \  in.  wide,  and  9  in.  thick  at  the  base,  tapering  to 
I  ft.  wide,  and  8  in.  thick  at  the  top,  where  it  is 
broken  off  irregularly.  With  the  exception  of  a  roll 
moulding  at  one  angle,   this  stone  is  quite  plain. 

Wayside  Cross. 
In  the  parish  of  Castor,  at  the  point  where  the  road 
from  Castor   to  Sutton  crosses  the  old    Roman   Ermine 


38     STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Street,  there  is  the  socket  of  an  ancient  cross.  The 
outside  of  this  measures  2  ft.  9  in.  by  2  ft.  5  in.,  and  the 
mortise-hole  is  i  ft.  8  in.  by  10  in.,  and  7^  in.  deep. 
The  stone  has  now  sunk  into  the  soil  so  deeply  that 
the  upper  surface  is  almost  level  with  the  ground  :  a 
cross  was  probably  placed  at  this  point  to  mark  the 
way.      It   is  well  known  locally  as   "  Sutton   Cross." 


An'cient  Stones. 

On  a  green  balk  in  this  parish  descending  to 
Gunwade  Ferry  are  two  long  stones  :  the  western  one 
is  3  ft.  6  in.  high  and  12  in.  by  11  in.  square  at  the 
base,  and  is  locally  known  by  the  name  of  "  Robin 
Hood"  ;  the  eastern  one  is  2  ft.  7  in.  high  and  12  in. 
by  10  in.  square  at  the  base,  and  is  called  *'  Little  John," 
from  a  tradition  that  two  arrows  were  shot  thither  by 
these  heroes  from  the  adjoining  churchyard  of  Alwalton, 
in  the  county  of  Huntingdon.  But  they  were  really 
set  up  as  evidence  that  carriages  of  stone  going  from 
Barnack  to  Saint  Edmund's  Bury  might  pass  without 
paying  toll.^*^  In  the  recent  order 
made  by  the  Board  of  Agriculture 
for  enclosing  this  parish,  provision 
has  been  made  for  preserving  these 
stones  ;  they  are  nicked  like  arrows 
at  the  top,  in  memory,  it  is  sup- 
posed, of  Saint  Edmund,  who  was 
shot  to  death  with  arrows  by  the 
Danes. 

GUNWADE    FERRY. 

GUNWAi,E  KERRY.  ^^    ^^c    garden    of    Mr.     Sykes' 

house     at    Gunwade     Ferry,    in    this 
parish,    there  are  two   pieces   of  the    heads    of   Anglo 

*^  Bridges'  Xofthafnptonshire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  499. 


CASTOR. 


39 


Saxon  crosses.  One  is  an  arm  of  a  cross,  with  an 
elegantly  designed  interlacing  ornament  on  one  side  ; 
the  other  is  composed  of  two  arms  of  a  cross  pattee 
enclosed  in  a  ring,  with  a  central  boss. 


CHIPPING  WARDEN. 

The  village  of  Chipping  Warden  is  ten  miles  from 
Daventry,  and  three  miles  from  Byfield  station  on  the 
East  and  West  Junction   Railway. 

Market  Cross. 

The  market  cross  stands  in  the  centre  of  the  village, 
the  church  being  on  one  hand  and  a  spreading  elm  on 
the  other. 


crrn 


--"'-^^*— -^feiit'.W,, 


viSWS^VtrV.v^, 


CHIPPING   WARDEN. 


It  now  consists  of  an  imposing  calvary  of  six  steps. 
The  lower  one  is  raised  by  masonry  some  height  above 
the  ground,  with  two  moulded  string  courses,  the  lower 
one    forming    a  drip.     The  remainder  of  the  steps    are 


40     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTOX SHIRE. 


quite  plain.  At  the  top  is  a  handsome  socket,  slightly- 
splayed  at  the  angles,  to  bring  it  from  a  square  to  an 
irregular  octagon,  and  having  a  mortise-hole  in  the 
centre.     Thirteenth  century. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Basement 
2ncl  step   ... 

3rcl  step 

4th  step    ... 

5th  step 

6th  step 

ft.   in. 
3      2 
0    10 
0     9 
0     9 
0    8 
0    8 

ft.    in. 

14     9 

12    II 

10     6 

8     6 

6     6 

4     5 

ft.    in. 

0  \\\ 

1  2 
I      0 
I      0 
0    II 
0    lOJ 

ft.   in. 
I      6 

ft.   in. 
2      9 

Thomas  Mayon  of  Chipping  Warden  in  1529  by 
his  will  left  "to  y""  repacon  off  the  crosse  that  stands 
nexte  my  howse  XX'^." 

Market. 

The  distinctive  name  of  this  village  makes  it  more 
than  probable  that  it  was  a  market  town  in  Anglo-Saxon 
times. ^^  The  word  Chipping  is  a  corruption  of  the 
Saxon  ccdpiug,  meaning  a  "  buying,"  which  is  derived 
from  cedp,  a  "  sale,"  or  "  bargain."  The  more  correct 
spelling  is  Cheping,  as  printed  in  Wicliffe's  translation  of 
St.  Luke's  Gospel.  There  are  a  considerable  number  of 
market  towns  in  England  with  the  prefix  Chipping  or 
Cheping,  many  of  them  being  places  of  importance  at 
the  present  time. 

In  any  case,  this  market  seems  to  have  lapsed,  and  it 
was  not  until  the  eleventh  year  of  Henry  III.  (1226-7) 
that  Henry  de  Braybroc  received  a  grant  from  the 
King  to  hold  a  weekly  mercate,  or  market,  in  Warden  ;  ^- 
which  grant  was  almost  immediately  revoked  because 
Hugh,    Bishop    of    Lincoln,    proved    that    it    would    be 

^'  '^\r)X\.oxi's,  Natural  History  of  Northamptonshire,  1712,  p.  526. 
'-  Bridges'  Northampto)ishire,  Vol.  I.,  p.  113. 


CHIPPING    WARDEN.  41 

prejudicial  to  the  Banbury  market,  whereof  the  Bishop 
of  Lincoln  was   lord. 

In  the  twenty-second  year  of  the  same  king  (1237-8) 
Girard  de  Turnivell  obtained  another  grant  for  holding  a 
weekly  market  in  the  village. 

In  1329-30  Thomas  le  Latimer  established  his  right 
to  hold  this  weekly  market. 

Sir  Thomas  Latimer,  in  1388-9,  brought  an  action 
against  William  Sleugh,  Vicar  of  Blakesley,  for  disturbing 
this  market. 

There  is  no  record  as  to  when  this  market  was 
discontinued. 

Mounting  Block. 

By  the  east  side  of  the  main  road  between   Byfield 
and    Warden,    near    the    turn     to    Aston-le- Walls,    is    a 
"  pack  horse  stone."     This  is  like  a  modern   mounting 
block  ;  the  lower  part  is  4  ft.  9  in. 
lono^,    2  ft.   6  in.  wide,  and  6  in.  ,       fy',<j,  _ 

high.       The     second     and     third  .-^--««- 


steps  are  both  set  back   i   ft.  on 

the    left,    and    are    each    10    in. 

high.      Each   of  the   two   upper  ciupping  warden. 

steps  is  formed  out   of  a    single 

stone.     On    the    side    of  the    second    step,    nearest   the 

road,  is  the  Ordnance  Bench  mark,  the  line  of  which  is 

477 '3    feet    above  sea  level,  and    the   following  legend, 

engraved  in  small  incised  Roman  capitals  : 

"THOMAS    RIGHT    OF    WARDEN 
SET    VP    THIS    IVLY    THE    30 

1659." 

In  the  county  of  Somerset,  near  Chew  Magna,  on 
the  high  road  leading  from  Bristol  to  Wells,  there  is 
a  mounting  block  very  similar  to  that  near  Warden  ; 
the  size  also  is  much  the  same,  but  it  is  more  roughly 
built,  and  bears  no  inscription. 


42     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


COGENHOE. 

The  village  of  Cogenhoe,  or,  as  it  is  usually  called, 
Cooknoe,  is  five  miles  from  Northampton,  and  one 
mile  from  Billing  station  on  the  London  and  North 
Western   Railway. 

The    church     at    this     village     is    an    unusually    fine 


COGENHOE. 


building,  in  the  Early  English  and  Decorated  styles, 
and   is  dedicated  to  Saint   Peter. 

In  the  churchyard,  by  the  path  leading  to  the  south 
porch,  formerly  stood  the  cross,  the  remains  of  which 
were  in  existence  some  forty  years  ago  ;  but  we  are 
sorry  to  record  that  they  have  since  been  swept  away. 

The  head  of  the  cross  has,  however,  been  preserved, 
and  is  now  on  the  apex  of  the  nave  roof,  over  the 
chancel  arch.       This  stone    is    2    ft.    i    in.    high  ;  it   is 


COG  EX  HOE.  43 

rectangular  in  plan,  the  eastern  and  western  faces  are 
I  ft.  I  in.  wide,  and  the  northern  and  southern  faces 
9|  in.  wide.  The  sides  are  ornamented  with  niches 
having  little  cusped  gables,  which  enclose  the  following 
subjects  sculptured  in  relief 

On  the  side,  now  facing:  the  east,  is  the  fiofure  of 
the  Father  clothed  and  seated,  and  holdino:  between 
His  knees  the  figure  of  His  Son  crucified.  The  form 
of  Christ  appears  undraped,  with  His  arms  resting  on 
the  Father's  knees.  This  is  a  most  unusual  subject, 
and  but  few  examples  are  known.  Something  of  the 
same  kind  will,  however,  be  found  on  one  of  the  bosses 
beneath  the  central  building  in  the  western  arch  of 
Peterborough  Cathedral.  There  the  Father  appears 
behind  the  Son  and  grasps  His  left  hand,  which  is 
raised,  the  other  hand  being  laid  on  His  left  breast. 

On  the  opposite  side,  now  facing  the  west,  is  the 
rood.  The  figure  of  Christ  with  His  arms  extended 
as  on  a  cross,  His  head  drooping  over  His  right 
shoulder.  His  feet  side  by  side,  and  a  linen  cloth  round 
His  loins.  On  the  Saviour's  left  side  is  the  figure 
of  Mary  draped,  and  on  His  right  was  the  figure  of 
Saint  John,  which  is  now  almost  obliterated. 

On  the  side,  facing  the  north,  is  the  figure  of  Saint 
Peter,  the  patron  saint,  seated  and  draped,  both  hands 
raised,  the  right  holding  some  undefined  object,  and 
the  left  a  key.  And  on  the  opposite  side,  facing  the 
south,  is  the  figure  of  Saint  Paul,  standing  and  draped, 
and  leaninq-  on  a  lono^  cross-handled  sword  :  he  was  the 
constant  companion  of  Saint  Peter,  the  same  day  the 
29th  June  serving  as  the  festival  of  both. 

This  stone  is  a  most  interesting  specimen  of  fourteenth- 
century  workmanship,  and  is  quite  unique  in  this  county. 
The  carving  has  much  perished,  and  it  is  to  be  feared 
that  it  will  ere  long  be  destroyed,  owing  to  the  very 
exposed  position  in  which  it  is  now  placed. 


44     STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


CORBY. 

Boundary    Stone. 

Close  to  some  farm  buildings,  by  the  side  of  the 
road  leading  from  Corby  to  Cottingham,  and  one  and  a 
half  miles  from  Corby  station  on  the  Midland  Railway, 
and  on  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  parishes, 
stands  a  very  interesting  boundary  stone.  It  is  of 
local  ironstone,    i    ft.    5   in.  high,   8   in.  wide,  and   6^   in. 

thick,     being     rounded     at 

the    top.       On     the     side 

nearest     Corby     a     Greek 

cross    is    incised  ;    and    on 

the   side    nearest    Cotting- 

ham     a     key     is     incised. 
CORBY.  These  figures  have  recently 

been  painted  black,  so  as  to  be  rather  obtrusively 
visible. 

The  stone  does  not  seem  to  be  of  any  great  age  ; 
perhaps  it  was  made  about  the  beginning  or  middle 
of  the   eighteenth  century. 

According  to  local  tradition  it  was  placed  here 
as  an   illustration  of  the  following  rhyme  : 

"  Corby  Cross, 
Cott'nham  key, 
Oakley  O, 
Gretton  G." 

But  it  appears  quite  as  likely  that  the  verse  was 
made  to  fit  the  stone,  as  that  the  stone  was  made  to 
fit  the  verse. 

It  may  be  presumed  that  there  was  a  good  market 
cross  at  Corby,  inasmuch  as  a  market  was,  with  two 
fairs,  granted  to  Henry  de  Braybroc  in  the  eleventh  year 
of  Henry  HI.  (1226-7).^^  There  does  not,  however, 
appear  to  be  any  actual  record  of  a  cross  here. 

'^  Bridges'  Aorihampiotishire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  295. 


CORE  Y. 


45 


The  key  for  Cottlngham  may  be  explained  by  the 
fact  that  the  Abbey  of  Peterborough,  at  the  time  of 
the  great  survey,  and  for  many  years  afterwards,  held 
Cottingham/^  St.  Peter,  therefore,  set  his  key  on  the 
boundary  stone,  that  none  might  move  his  landmark. 


COTTERSTOCK. 

The  little  village  of  Cotterstock  is  one  and  three- 
quarter  mile  from  the  town,  and  one  and  a  quarter 
mile  from  the  station  of  Oundle  on  the  London  and 
North  Western   Railway. 

Churchyard    Cross. 

Close    to   the   porch  of  this  church  is  the  socket  of 
an  ancient   cross,   bearing 
an  inscription,   which    has 
been        variously        read. 
Bridges  gives  it  as  : 

"  Jobs  Leef  .  .  . 
uxor  ejus  banc  fecerunt 
Eclam.""^ 

Gough  gives  it  as  : 
"  Job's  Leef  [et  Jacklen] 
uxor  ejus,  banc  fecerunt 
ecl'am  [fieri],"  and  states 
that  he  takes  it  from 
Bridges,  supplying  the 
words  in  brackets  from 
another  copy,  but  that 
the  words  were  not  dis- 
tinguishable in  his  time."' 

The  correct  inscription   is   given  by  George   James 
de  Wilde,'*"  and   is  as  follows  : 

"  Bridges'  Notihamptonshirc,  Vol.  II.,  p.  298. 

^•''  Ihid.,  p.  440. 

■"^  Gibson  and  Gougli's  Caslur,  18 19,  p.  17G. 

*'  De  Wilde's  Rainblcs  Roundabout,  1872,  p.  ico. 


C.A.M.  J.l. 
15^  S.^r.  1300. 

COTTERSTOCK   (CHURCll). 


46     STOXE    CROSSES    OF  XORTHAMPTOX SHIRE, 

"  lohs  leet  et  .  .  . 
len  uxor  eius  .  .  . 
fecerunt  fieri.  .   .   ." 

This  ancient  socket  has  been  incorporated  into  the 
present  cross,  which  was  erected  in  1890  by  the  Vicar, 
the  Rew   Francis  Buttanshaw. 

The  larger  socket  stands  on  a  low  basement  step, 
the  angles  are  slightly  splayed  on  the  top,  on  the  west 
side  is  engraved  the  legend  : 

"  Ad  niaiorem  Dei  gloriam 

et  in  memoriain 

Filii  Primogeniti 

►J*  hanc  restitui  curavit 

F.  B.  huius  Eccla  Vic 

Pascha.  A.S.   1890." 

And  on  the  east  side  the  legend  : 

"Francis  Buttanshaw 
Born  at  Fobbing  Essex 

Mar.   16.  A.S.   1855 

Died  at  Grahams  Town 

Cape  Colony  Nov.   2.  A.S.   1884. 

By  Thy  Cross  Good  Lord  deliver  us." 

Above  this  is  the  old  socket  before  mentioned  ; 
and  this  again  carries  a  good  shaft  with  pinnacled  head 
and  cross. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD  AND 
CROSS. 

Height. 

E-h    Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 
and    step      or 
socket 

ft.    in. 

0  4 

1  9 

ft.   in.    ft.  in. 
4     4  !o  (y\\ 

3    3i'o5fJ 

1 

ft.  in. 
I     3 

ft.    in. 
2      4 

ft.   in. 
6    3 

ft.  in. 
I      I 

ft.   in. 

4    5 

ft.  in. 
2       I 

The  Rev.  Francis  Buttanshaw  graduated  at  Uni- 
versity College,  Oxford,  and  was  ordained  deacon  in 
185 1   and  priest  in    1852.     He  was  curate  of  Fobbing, 


COTTERSTOCK. 


47 


Co.   Essex,    1854-5,   and    became   Vicar  of  Cotterstock 
C7n7i  Glapthorne  in    1887. 

Mr.  Buttanshaw's  eldest  son,  Francis,  became  a 
member  of  the  Cape  Mounted  Police.  He  was  in  the 
small  war  with  Moirsi,  was  wounded,  and  twice  com- 
mended for  bravery.  He  died  at  Cape  Colony,  while 
still  a  young  man,  from  brain  fever. 


Village    Cross. 

On  the   little  three-cornered  green  in  the  centre  of 
this  village  there  lay  for  many  years  the  base  or  socket 
of  an    ancient    cross.       The    purpose    for     which    this 
cross   was    erected   is   not 
known  :   it  could  not  have 
been   a    market    cross,   as 
no    market    was    held    at 
this    village ;    but    it    was 
perhaps  a  preaching  cross, 
erected  in  connection  with 
the     college     or     chantry 
which    was  founded    here 
about  the  year   1336."'^ 

It  has  been  suggested 
that  it  marked  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Abbey  of 
Medehampstead  (Peter- 
borough) over  the  old 
college,  but  this  we  think 
was  hardly  probable. 

The  original  position  of  this  cross  is  not  known, 
for  it  has  been  twice  moved  within  living  memory : 
first  from  the  meadow  side  of  the  litde  coppice  by  the 
green  to  the  road  side  ;  and  secondly  on  to  the  green 
where  it  now  stands. 

The    cross    was    rebuilt    by     Viscount     Melville    in 

^*  Dugdale's  Motiasticon,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  1,374. 


COTTERSTOCK    (vILLAGE). 


48     STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

1896/''     The  old  socket  has  been  placed  on  two  steps, 
^nd  surmounted   by  a  shaft. 

Round  the  step  is  cut  the  text  : 

"  The  preaching  of  the  Cross  is  to 

them  that  perish  foolishness 

but  unto  us  that  are  saved 

it  is  the  power  of  god." 

The  socket  is  of  Barnack  rag,  but  as  these  quarries 
have  been  long  since  exhausted,  the  new  work  is  of 
Weldon   stone. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD  AND 
CROSS. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 
2nd  step 

ft.  in. 
0     6 

0     6\ 

ft.    in. 
5      9 

3     6 

ft.  in. 
0  6|J 

ft.  in. 
I     6 

ft.  in. 
2     5 

ft.  in. 
6     4 

ft.  in. 
I      0 

X 

0   II 

ft.   in. 

3    0 

ft.    in. 
I      7 

CULWORTH. 

The  village  of  Culworth  is  eight  miles  from  Brackley, 
and  one  and  a  half  mile  from  Culworth  station  on  the 
Great  Central   Railway. 

Market  Cross. 

The  cross  standing  in  the  centre  of  the  village  now 
consists  only  of  four  plain,  square  steps,  surmounted  by 
the  remains  of  a  socket,  one  side  of  which  has  been 
entirely  destroyed.  The  socket  is  in  two  pieces :  the 
lower,  7  in.  high,  is  of  white  stone  ;  the  upper,  2  ft.  1  in. 
high,  is  of  local  red  stone.  The  stones  of  the  steps 
have  been  secured  by  iron  cramps. 

This  cross  must,  when  perfect,  have  formed  a 
picturesque  and  imposing  object. 

^^  Peterborough  Diocesan  Magazine,  Vol.  VIII.,  p.  177. 


CULWORTH. 


49 


^*t^^ 


C.A.M-ll...,    J 


CULWORTH. 


In   the  Churchwardens'  book  for  Culworth  there  is 
the  following  entry  for   1586: 

"  Receyts  by  Richard  Trafford. 
fifirst  of  John   Harrys  for  the  d. 

cros  stone     ....         xxiii." 

This  looks  very  much   as  if  the  parish  at  this  time 
sold  the  head  or  shaft,  or  both.      Date  about   1264. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Basement             

2ncl  step   ... 
3rd  step    ... 
4th  step 

ft.   in. 

I     9 
0     7 
0     7 
0    6 

ft.   in. 
10     9 
8    9 
6     9 
4    9 

ft.    in. 
I      l"j 
I      0 
I      0  " 
I     oj 

ft.   in. 
2     3 

ft.   in. 
2     9 

Market  and  Fair. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Edward  III.  John 
Bernes  and  others,  the  feoffees  of  Alice  Perers,  obtained 

4 


50     STOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORT  HAMPTON  SHI  RE. 

a  grant  of  a  weekly  market  at  this  village,  and  an 
annual  fair  on  the  vigil,  the  day,  and  the  morrow  of 
the  feast  of  Saint  Petri  ad  Vincula  (ist  August). ^°  Both 
market  and  fair  have  long  since  been  discontinued.''^ 

DALLINGTON. 

The  village  of  Dallington  is  one  and  a  quarter  mile 
from  Northampton,  and  rather  less  from  the  Castle 
station,   Northampton. 

Churchyard  Cross. 
In  this  churchyard,  close  to  the  eastern  corner  of 
the  south  aisle,  is  the  upper  step  of  the  old  cross.  It 
is  square,  each  face  being  3  ft.  wide,  and  it  is  5^  in. 
thick  ;  the  north-west  angle  rests  on  masonry  i  ft.  2  in. 
high.  This  stone  now  supports  an  ugly  cast-iron  monu- 
ment, erected  in  1864,  in  memory  of  an  inhabitant  of 
the  village,  and  probably  covers  the  old  socket,  and 
possibly  also  the  stump  of  the  cross. 

DAVENTRY. 

The  borough  of  Daventry  is  twelve  miles  from 
Northampton,  with  a  station  on  the  London  and  North 
Western   Railway. 

Market  and  Fairs. 

The  market  here  is  an  immemorable  appendage  of 
the  manor.  About  the  fortieth  year  of  Henry  III. 
(1255-6)  the  jurors  of  Fawsley  Hundred  presented 
that  the  lord  of  Daventry  held  a  market  at  "  Davintr'." 
By  an  inquisition  of  3rd  Edward  I.  (1275)  the  jurors 
certified  that,  although  no  market  should  be  held  within 
ten  miles  of  Northampton,  Robert  FitzWalter  held  one 
at  Daventry.      From  a  quo  warranto  of  3rd  Edward  III. 

■''"  Baker's  NortJuiDiptonshire,  Vol.  I.,  p.  C07. 

^'  Macnamara"s  Mei/iorials  of  the  Da7ivers  Family^  1895. 


DAVENTRY.  51 

(1329)    it     appeared    that    the    market    was     held    on 
Wednesday,  and  it  is  still  held  on  that  day.''- 

Bridees  states  that  in  his  time  "  there  are  five 
fairs  kept  here  in  the  year  :  the  three  principal  are  held 
on  the  Tuefday  in  EaJIer  week,  on  the  twenty-firft  of 
Septejnbcr.'-AXidi  on  the  fixteenth  of  October.  The  other 
two  of  lefs  note  are  kept  on  the  26th  of  May  and  on 
the  23rd  o{  Jiilyy-"'^ 

In  1800  the  fairs  were  held  on  Easter  Tuesday,  the 
6th  June,  the  3rd  August,  the  2nd  October,  and  the 
27th  October. 

Baker  says  that  in  his  time  nine  fairs  were  held — 
namely,  on  the  first  Monday  in  January,  the  last  Monday 
in  February,  Easter  Tuesday,  the  6th  and  7th  June, 
August  3rd,  first  Monday  in  September,  the  2nd,  3rd, 
and  27th  October,  and  the  last  Wednesday  in  Novem- 
ber. Augustine's  fair  (now  the  6th  and  7th  June)  is 
probably  coeval  with  the  market. ^^ 

At  the  present  time  fairs  are  held  on  the  second 
Tuesday  in  each  month,  and  on  the  27th  October,  or 
the  day  after  if  that  is  a  Sunday. 

There  is  no  record  of  a  market  cross  in  this  borougfh. 


DESBOROUGH. 

The  town  of  Desborough  is  six  miles  from  Kettering, 
with  a  station  in  the  town  on  the  Midland  Railway. 

Churchyard    Cross. 

In  the  Vicarage  garden  at  this  place  are  the  remains 
of  a  Saxon  cross,  covered  with  very  interesting  carving. 

This  stone  is  2  ft.  4  in.  long,  i  ft.  7^  in.  wide,  and 
I  ft.  3 J  in.  thick.  It  is  only  sculptured  on  two  sides, 
but  three  of  the  angles  have  rudimentary  cable  moulding. 

•'-  Baker's  Northmnptoiishirc,  Vol.  I.,  p.  326. 
'"'^  Bridges'  NortJiamptonsliirc,  Vol.  I.,  p.  45. 
*^  Baker's  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  I.,  p.  326. 


52     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

On  the  front  there  are  two  panels.  The  lower  one 
is  filled  with  an  interlacing  band,  at  each  end  of  which 
there  is  a  Stafford  knot,  and  the  centre  of  which  is 
combined  by  a  circular  ring.  This  is  a  pleasing  and 
by  no  means  unusual   Saxon  ornament. 

The  upper  panel  contains  two  beasts  adossed,  or  back 
to  back,  and  above  and  between  them  there  is  the  head 
of  a  man  or  animal.  Each  beast  has  one  of  his  forepaws 
raised    and   the    other    on    the   ground,    and    they   have 


DESLOROUGII. 


their  heads  erect  and  mouths  open.  The  ear  of  the 
beast  on  the  right  is  much  prolonged,  and  after  forming 
an  interlacing  knot  round  the  neck,  reaches  to  the 
ground,  in  frc^t  of  the  beast.  The  tail  of  the  beast  on 
the  left  is  also  prolonged  and  curves  up  over  the  back, 
forming  an  interlacing  knot  round  the  neck,  reaching 
to  the  ground  behind  the  beast.  Below  the  animals 
are  four  circular  pellets  or  bosses.  Similar  subjects 
occur  on  stones  in  Scotland  and  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  in 
some  of  which  the  beasts  are  facingf  each  other,  Mr. 
J.     Romilly    Allen    thinks     that     this    stone    represents 


DESBOROUGH.  53 

Daniel  in  the  lions'  den,^'  Daniel  being  suggested 
rather  than  represented  by  the  single  head. 

On  the  right  side  there  are  also  two  beasts  ;  but  in 
this  case  they  are  placed  one  over  another,  and  the 
upper  one  faces  towards  the  right  and  the  lower  one 
towards  the  left.  The  head  of  the  upper  beast  has 
been  broken  off!  The  lower  beast  has  one  forepaw 
raised  ;  his  tail  stands  up  over  his  back,  forming  a  knot, 
and  passing  behind  the  upper  beast,  forms  a  bend  and 
ends  in  a  barbed  point  ;  round  his  neck  there  is  an 
independent  band  which  forms  a  twist,  and  then  passing 
before  and  behind  his  body,  is  worked  into  a  Stafford 
knot  beneath  his  belly.  In  the  back  there  are  also  two 
circular  bosses. 

There  is  a  second  piece  of  oolite  stone,  1  ft.  8  in. 
long,  I  ft.  6^  in.  wide,  and  4  in.  thick,  which  might 
possibly  have  formed  part  of  a  cross.  It  has  an  inter- 
lacing pattern  of  twisted  bands  combined  by  circular 
rings  on  one  side  only. 

Village    Cross. 

In  the  centre  of  this  village  there  is  a  square  pillar 
of  ashlar  stones  with  a  large  capital  supporting  a  stone 
ball.  This  pillar  has  been  built  on  what  was  evidently 
the  base  of  an  old  market  cross,  and  it  now  serves 
for  a  sign-post,  having  names  and  distances  painted  on 
the  sides.      On  the  north  side  is  : 


on  the  east  : 
and  on  the  west 


"81 

Miles  From 
LONDON " ; 

"To 
Harbro  5  "  • 


"To 

Kettering  6." 

^^  Associated  Architectural  Societies'  Reports,  Vol.  XIX.,  p.  412. 


54     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 
2ncl  step 

ft.  in. 

0  6 

1  3 

ft.  in. 
6     8 
4     8 

ft.  in. 
I    o| 

C  IlJ 

ft.  in. 
I      4 

ft.  in. 
2    lO 

ft.  in. 
9     6 

ft.  in. 
2     3 

ft.   in. 
4     3 

ft.  in. 
2     6 

No  market  is  held  here. 


EARL^S    BARTON. 

The  considerable  village  of  Earl's  Barton  is  three 
and  a  half  miles  from  Wellingborough,  and  one  and  a 
quarter  mile  from  Castle  Ashby  station  on  the  London 
and  North  Western  Railway. 

Churchyard   Cross. 

In  the  churchyard  at  this  village,  immediately 
opposite  to  the  south  door  of  the 
church,  there  is  the  socket  of  a  small 
cross. 

This,  measures  14  in.  by  9  in.,  and 
stands  about  10  in.  above  the  ground. 
The    angles   are    chamfered,  and    the 
mortise-hole  is  5  in.  square  and  5  in.  deep. 

This  stone  was  probably  part  of  a  small  churchyard 
cross,  and  is  evidently  not  in  its  original  position. 

EYDON. 

The  village  of  Eydon  is  ten  miles  from  Daventry 
and  the  same  distance  from  Towcester,  and  three  miles 
from  Byfield  station  on  the  East  and  West  Junction 
Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  churchyard  the  old  cross  stands  just  south 
of  the   east  window  of  the   church.      It  consisted   of  a 


earl's  barton. 


EYDON. 


55 


step,  socket,  and  a  piece  of  the  shaft  in  local  red  stone. 
When  the  cross  was  rebuilt  in  1865,  a  new  shatt  and 
head  were  added,  at  the 
expense  of  the  late  Sir 
Henry  Dryden,   Bart. 

The  basement  or 
step  has  a  set-off  close 
to  the  ground,  and  the 
upper  edge  is  bevelled, 
it  is  formed  of  large 
stones.  The  socket, 
like  the  step,  has  a  set- 
off, and  is  brought  to 
an  octagon  by  bold 
convex  broaches.  It 
has  been  much  fractured, 
having  been  broken 
across  horizontally. 

1  he    new     shaft    is 
fastened    on    to    the    fragment  ot    the  old  shatt.       The 
plain  cross  at  the  summit,  however,   is  not  in  character 
with  the  old  step  and  socket. 

This  cross  formerly  stood  opposite  to  the  porch  of 
the  church. 


Measurements. 


BASEMENT. 

SOCKET.      !       SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 

ft.  in. 
2      I| 

ft.  in. 

5    4k 

ft.   in. 
I      5 

ft.   in. 
2     0 

ft.  in.     ft.   in. 

2652 

1 

ft.  in. 
0   10.^ 

ft.  in. 
3     0 

ft.  in. 
2     2 

56     STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTOXSHIRE. 

FOTHERINGHAY. 

The  village  of  Fotheringhay  is  four  miles  from 
Oundle,  and  two  miles  from  Elton  station  and  the  same 
distance  from  Nassington  station,  both  on  the  London 
and   North  Western   Railway. 

Market  Cross. 

In  the  second  year  of  Edward  II.  (130S)  the  Earl 
of  Richmond  obtained  the  privilege  of  a  fair  to  be  held 
yearly  on  the  eve  of  Saint  Michael  (28th  September) 
and  two  following  days,  and  a  weekly  market  to  be 
held  every  Wednesday.'- 

This  nobleman  probably  erected  a  market  cross,  in 
the  centre  of  the  villaQ^e,  at  the  north-west  corner  of 
the  churchyard,  on  a  space  called  the  market-stead. 

The  Ven.  Archdeacon  Bonney  states  that  he 
possessed  an  ancient  manuscript  which  contained  the 
note  for  the  year  1580  : 

"Received  of  John  Lyn  for 
stones  standing  round  the 
Crosse.        .         .         .         .4^.  3^." 

And  this,  he  thinks,  is  sufficient  to  show  that  the  cross 
was  destroyed  in  that  year,  which  is  likely  enough, 
though  it  is  right  to  say  that  the  evidence  as  to  this 
cross  is  not  conclusive."' 

The  market  appears  to  have  fallen  into  disuse  before 
1460,  and  never  to  have  been  renewed. 

In  1800  the  fair  was  held  on  the  third  Monday  after 
the  5th  July. 

GRENDON. 

The  village  of  Grendon  is  five  and  a  half  miles 
from  Wellingborough,   and  one   and   three-quarter  mile 

■''"'  Bridges'  Nort/iat/iptoushire,  Vol  II.,  p.  449. 

'•"  Bonney's  Historic  Notices  in  Reference  to  Fotheringhay,  1821,  p.  5. 


GREXDOIV. 


57 


from  Castle   Ashby  station  on  the    London   and   North 
Western   Railway. 

Village  Cross. 
In  the  part  of  this  village  known  as  Nether  End 
there  is  the  socket  of  an  ancient  cross.  This  lies  by 
the  side  of  the  road,  almost  in  the  hedgerow.  A  second 
socket  lies  in  a  field  adjoining.  Both  stones  are  rude, 
and  of  no  architectural   importance. 


CAM^^ 


HARKINGWORTH. 


HARRINGWORTH. 

The  village  of  Harringworth  is  ten  miles  from 
Oundle,  with  a  station  in  the  villacjc  on  the  Midland 
Railway. 


58     STOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


Market  Cross. 

A  fine  cross  stands  in  the  centre  of  the  village, 
composed  of  calvary,  socket,  shaft,  and  head.  The 
calvary  is  formed  of  five  square  steps,  which  are  con- 
structed of  large  stones.  The  socket  is  plain,  square 
below,  octagonal  above  with  convex  broaches,  beneath 
circular  drip.  The  shaft  is  made  of  eight  clustered 
columns,  the  four  larger  being  at  the  corners  and  the 
four  smaller  at  the  sides  ;  the  whole  are  joined.  The 
column  is  formed  of  three  stones,  the  lower  being  9  ft. 
high.  It  is  set  diagonally  in  the  socket  with  lead. 
The  shaft  is  surmounted  by  a  capital  with  square 
abacus,  above  which  is  a  small  modern  ornamental 
cross  with  equal  arms,  which  was  placed  thereon  about 
1850.      Date,  fourteenth  century. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAPT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 
4th  step 
5th  step 

ft.    in. 
I      6 
0     8 
0     7^ 
0    6 
0    5 

ft.   in. 

II    2 

98 

8  3 
6  6 

5  3 

ft.  in. 
0  9  •\ 
0  8i 
0  8i  - 
0  9 

1 0 ; 

ft.  in. 
I      4 

ft.   in. 
3      2 

ft.    in. 
136 

ft.    in. 
I      2 

ft.   in. 
3     4 

ft.   in. 
2      0 

Market  and  Fairs. 

In  1386  Sir  William  la  Zouche,  Knight,  obtained 
licence  to  enclose  with  a  stone  wall  and  make  a  castle 
of  his  manor  house  at  this  village,  with  the  liberty  of 
holding  a  yearly  fair  for  three  days  (beginning  on  the 
eve  of  Saint  John  Baptist  {23rd  June),  and  a  weekly 
market  every  Tuesday.  This  charter  was  renewed  to 
his  successor  in  1431.^^  It  is  not  stated  when  the 
market  was  discontinued,  but  it  was  before  the  com- 
mencement of  the  eighteenth  century. 

•■"^  Bridges'  Northamptoiishire,  Vol,  II.,  p.  317. 


HE  LPS  TON.  59' 


HELPSTON. 

The  village  of  Helpston  is  seven  miles  from  Peter- 
borough, and  half  a  mile  from  Helpston  station  on  the 
Midland   Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  churchyard  a  large  cross  formerly  stood  near 
the  door  of  the  church,  as  we  learn  from  Robert  Hochyn, 
who,  in  his  will  dated  1504,  desired  that  his  body  might 
be  buried  in  Helpston  churchyard  "ante  introitum 
porticus,   prope  magnam   crucem."  ^^ 

This  is  the  only  record  of  the  cross,  which  has  long 
since  been  destroyed. 

When  the  tower  of  this  church  was  rebuilt  in  1865 
some  early  headstones,  carved  with  crosses,  were  found. 
The  earliest  of  these  is  Saxon.  It  has  a  circular  head, 
which  is  ornamented  on  both  sides  with  a  cross  pattee 
in  relief,  each  slightly  different ;  and  below,  on  each 
side  is  the  usual  knot  work,  each  design  again  being 
different.  Another  stone  is  of  thirteenth-century  work. 
It  has  a  circular  head,  also  worked  on  both  sides  in 
relief  with  a  cross  floree,  each  cross  being  of  different 
design.      Both  stones  are  figured  in  Mr.  Sweeting's  book. 

Market  Cross. 

To  the  south  of  the  church,  in  the  village  street,, 
stands  a  very  charming  cross  of  fourteenth-century 
work.  The  calvary  is  formed  of  four  circular  steps, 
each  of  which  has  a  plain  angular  drip,  and  it  is 
surrounded  by  a  square  of  pitching. 

The  cross  is  solid,  octagonal  in  plan,  and  at  each 
angle  is  a  pointed  pilaster,  which  is  surmounted  by 
a    crocketed    pinnacle.      On    these    pinnacles,    at   about 

*'  Sweeting's  Parish  Churches  in  and  around  Pcterbo?vugh,  1868,  p.  92. 


6o     STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


two-thirds  of  their  height,  are  capitals,  from  which  spring 
crocketed  gables.  The  first  story  is  crowned  by  small 
battlements.  On  the  centre  is  the  socket,  square  below, 
and  brought  to  an  octagon  by  bold  concave  broaches, 
while  round  the  upper  edge  is  a  well-cut  circular  drip. 
The  shaft  is  a  tapering  octagonal  monolith,  brought  to 
a  square  where  it  joins  the  socket. 

Within  living  memory  the  cross  was  surrounded  by 


a  pent  house.  This  was  removed  more  than  fifty  years 
ago,  and  probably  never  formed  part  of  the  original 
structure. 

This  building  appears  to  be  quite  unique  ;  the  only 
structure  at  all  like  it,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  being  the 
White  Friars'  cross,  near  Hereford.  The  lower  portion 
reminds  one  of  the  Queen's  cross  at  Waltham,  much 
simplified.  An  excellent  photograph  of  the  Helpston 
cross  appears  in  Mr.  Sweeting's  book.     Date  about  1350. 


HELPS  TON. 


6i 


Measurements. 


STEPS. 

BODY. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Basement 
and  step 
3rd  step 
4th  step 

ft.   in. 

I      3 
I      0 
I       2 
I       2 

ft.    in. 

12     3 
9     6 
7    9 
5     7 

ft.   in. 
0  II  1^ 
0    9J 

ft.   in. 
5      9 

ft.  in. 

I     8 

ft.   in. 

I      4 

ft.   in. 

2      4 

ft.  in. 
8     6 

ft.  in. 
0     9 

Market. 

Bridges  states  that :  "  The  ftatutes  are  always  kept 
here,  with  a  great  concourfe  of  people  ;  and  the 
inhabitants  have  a  tradition  of  there  being  formerly 
a  market  here."  *'°  But  no  market  has  been  held  at 
Helpston  for   some  centuries. 

Memorial    Cross. 

In  this  village,  also  near  the  church,  stands  a  stone 
memorial  cross  to  the  Northamptonshire  poet,  Clare, 
which  was  erected  in   1869  by  subscription. 

This  is  of  Ketton  stone,  square  below,  with  rope 
moulding  at  the  angles  and  large  quatrefoil  panels 
on  each  face.  The  next  story  is  also  square,  turned  a 
quarter  round,  and  supported  at  each  angle  by  a 
buttress.  The  third  story  is  a  circular  shaft,  sur- 
mounted by  a  cone  and  carved  finial. 

On  the  south  side  is  the  legend  : 

"  This  Memorial 
is  erected  to  perpetuate 
the  memory  of 

JOHN  CLARE 

THE  Northamptonshire 

Peasant  Poet 

a  native  of  this  village. 

Born  July  13,  1793.     Died  May  20,  1864."' 

^  Bridges'  Northawptonshirc,  Vol.  II.,  p.  514. 


62     STOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

On  the  east  side  : 

"the  hard  his  glory  ne'er  receives 

WHERE    summer's    COMMON    FLOWERS    ARE    SEEN, 
BUT    WINTER    FINDS    IT,    WHEN    SHE    LEAVES 

THE    LAUREL    ONLY    GREEN ; 
AND    TIME,    FROM    THAT    ETERNAL    TREE, 
SHALL    WEAVE    A    WREATH    TO    HONOUR    THEE. 


Clare."  ^i 


On  the  north  side 


"THE    GRAVE    ITS    MORTAL    DUST    MAY    KEEP, 
WHERE    TOMBS    AND    ASHES    LIE  : 
DEATH    ONLY    SHALL    TIME's    HARVEST    REAP, 
FOR    GENIUS    CANNOT    DIE. 

Clare:'  «2 
And  on  the  west  side  : 

"  O    LET    ONE    WISH,    GO    WHERE    I    WILL,    BE    MINE, 

TO    TURN    ME    BACK    AND    WANDER    HOME    TO    DIE, 
'mONG    NEAREST    FRIENDS    MY    LATEST    BREATH    RESIGN, 
AND    IN    THE    CHURCHYARD    WITH    MY    KINDRED    LIE. 

Clare:'  «3 

John  Clare  was  born  in  Helpston  on  the  13th  July, 
1793.  His  parents  were  amongst  the  poorest  in  the 
village,  and  the  little  poet  had  but  a  sad  boyhood. 
While  still  a  lad  he  fell  in  love  with  the  beautiful  Mary 
Joyce  ;  but,  after  a  few  months  of  blissful  meetings,  her 
father  forbade  any  further  intercourse,  and  so  he  lost 
his  Mary.  Clare  worked  as  a  labourer  and  limestone 
burner,  at  a  small  wage.  He  soon  became  engaged 
to  Martha  Turner,  whom  he  afterwards  married,  and 
by  whom  he  had  several  children. 

Clare  wrote  poetry  from  his  earliest  years,  but  he 
had     great    difficulty     in     finding    anyone     who    would 

'='  "  To  a  Poet"  {Rural  Muse),  by  John  Clare,  1835. 

«2  ''Genius"  {Rural  Muse),  by  John  Clare,  1835. 

«^3  "A  Wish"  (Sonnet  XXL,  The  Village  Minstrel),  by  John  Clare,  1821. 


HELPSTON.  .  6i 

publish  his  works.  In  1820,  however,  his  first  volume, 
entitled  Poems  Descriptive  of  Rural  Life  and  Scenery, 
was  brought  out  by  Messrs.  Taylor  &  Hessey.  Next 
year  The  Village  Minstrel  was  published  in  two 
volumes  ;  this  was  Clare's  most  important  work,  though 
at  first  it  was  scarcely  noticed  by  the  public.  Six  years 
elapsed  before  The  Shepherd' s  Calendar  was  printed. 
Clare's  last  work,  The  Rural  Muse,  appeared  in  1835, 
after  he  had  removed  to  Northborough.  The  poems 
in  this  volume  were  very  superior  to  Clare's  earlier 
poetry,  but  the  book  was  quite  neglected,  and  the 
copies  remained  unsold  on  the  publisher's  shelves. 

Soon  after  this  time  the  first  indications  of  insanity 
appeared  in  the  poet,  and  he  was  taken  to  a  private 
lunatic  asylum  in  Epping  Forest.  After  remaining 
there  for  some  years  he  escaped,  and  made  his  way 
by  road,  in  a  starving  state,  to  his  old  house  at 
Northborough. 

Clare  was  not,  however,  suffered  to  remain  long  at 
his  home,  but  was  again  certified  as  insane,  and  sent 
to  the  General  Lunatic  Asylum  at  Northampton,  now 
known  as  St.  Andrew's  Hospital.  He  remained  in 
Northampton  for  two-and-twenty  years  ;  and  his  figure 
was  quite  familiar  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  one 
of  his  favourite  resorts  being  the  portico  of  All  Saints' 
Church. 

John  Clare  died  on  the  20th  May,  1864,  and  his 
remains  were  taken  to  his  birthplace  and  interred  in 
Helpston   Churchyard."'* 

HIGHAM,    COLD. 

The  village  of  Cold  Higham  is  three  miles  from  the 
town  and  station  of  Towcestcr  on  the  London  and 
North   Western    Railway. 

"  Martin's  Z/A' o/C/rt;r,  1865. 


64     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  churchyard,  to  the  south   of  the  chancel,  are 
the  remains  of  a  once  elegant  cross. 

The  socket  of  this  is 
square  where  it  rests  on  the 
ground,  and  it  is  brought 
to  an  octagon  by  plain 
broaches  ;  the  upper  edge 
is  moulded  and  undercut  to 
form  a  drip.  It  is  i  ft.  4  in. 
high,  and  2  ft.  7  in.  square 
below.      The  shaft  is    1 1    in. 

COLD    IIIGHAM. 

square,  and  is  fitted  to  the 
socket  with  lead  ;  it  is  also  brought  to  an  octagon  by 
plain  broaches,  and  is  only  7  in.  high. 


HIGHAM    FERRERS. 

The  borough  of  Higham  F'errers  is  five  miles  from 
Wellingborough,  with  a  station  on  the  Midland  Railway 
in  the  town,  and  one  mile  from  Higham  Ferrers  station 
on  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

This  ancient  borouo^h  still  contains  two  excellent 
stone  crosses,  the  one  in  the  market-place,  the  other 
in  the  churchyard. 

There  were  apparently  other  crosses  in  the  parish, 
for  the  Mayor  of  Higham  owned  a  manor  called 
Borough  Hold,  which  extended  from  Stump  Cross  in 
the  north  to  Spittle  Cross  in  the  south.  These  crosses 
have,  however,  been  destroyed,  and  even  the  places 
where  they  stood  forgotten. 

Churchyard  Cross. 
The    churchyard    cross    stands    near    the    Grammar 
School,   and  due  west  of  the  church  tower.      It  is  quite 


HIGHAM    FERRERS. 


65 


a  small  monument,  being  only  1 1  ft.  high.  The 
calvary  is  composed  of  four  steps,  which  are  circular 
and  quite  plain  ;  the  upper  is  hollowed,  as  if  by  the 
knees  of  devotees.  The  socket  is  large  and  solid, 
square  below,  and  broached  so  as  to  form  an  octagon. 
The  shaft  is  square  below  and  above,  and  splayed  for 
the  greater  part  of  its  length,  so  as  to  form  an  irregular 
octagon,    the    sides    being    slightly    hollowed.       It    has 


-^.r=;  .Cssi- 


HIGHAM    FERRERS. 


plain  moulded  members  where  it  joins  the  socket,  and 
is  elegandy  ornamented  with  oak-leaf  foliage  on  the 
broader  faces,  and  with  leaves  and  ball-flowers  or 
crockets  on  the  narrower  faces.  The  capital  is  deep 
and  square,  with  plain  moulded  members  beneath,  and 
triangular  ornaments  on  the  four  faces. 

This    cross    is    of    the    Decorated    period,    and    was 
erected  about  1320.      It  has  been  much  mutilated.'''' 

c^  Churches  of  the  Archdeaconry  of  Northampton,   1849,  pp.  i,  28,  from 
which  this  drawing  of  the  cross  is  reproduced. 

5 


66     STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


Measurements. 


STEPS 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Square. 

Basement    ... 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 
4th  step        ;.. 

ft.  in. 
I      I 

0    7 
0    7 
0    6 

ft.  in. 
10     8 
8     8 
6     8 
4    8 

ft.   in.     ft.   in. 
I    O^ 

I   oj 

ft.  in. 
2      9 

ft.   in. 

5    6 

ft.   in. 
I      0 

X 

0    8 

ft.   in. 
0   II 

ft.  in. 
0   10 

X 

0     7 

Market  Cross. 


The    present    market   cross  stands   in   the   centre   of 
the  town.     The  base  now    consists  of  a  conical  pile  of 


HIGHAM    FERRERS. 


masonry,  which  is  probably  formed  by  casing  round  the 
original  circular  or  polygonal  steps.      The  peculiar  shape 


HIGH  AM  FERRERS. 


67 


of  this  base  gives  the  cross  a  somewhat  unusual  appear- 
ance. The  shaft  is  a  single  stone,  fourteen  feet  high, 
octagonal  for  the  greater  portion  of  its  length,  but 
becoming  circular  near  the  top.  The  capital  is  formed 
by  graceful  Early  English  foliage  beneath  a  pear-shaped 
form  supporting  a  square  abacus.  It  was  surmounted 
by  a  long  iron  rod,  on  which  was  a  somewhat  quaint 
weather-vane  which  has  recently  been  replaced  by  a  new 
one.     This  cross  was  erected  about  1280. 

In  Bridges'  time  there  was  on  the  summit  a  small 
stone  cube,  carved  with  figures  representing  the 
Crucifixion.     This  has  now  disappeared.'* 

According  to  Coles,  during  the  Commonwealth  the 
Mayor  of  Higham  used  to  publish  the  banns  of  marriage 
of  the  burgesses  at  this  cross,  he  being  one  of  the 
magistrates  entitled  to  solemnise  marriages. 

The  shaft  of  this  cross  is  now  stayed  up  by  three 
iron  struts,  which  also  support  two  unsightly  lamps. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Dia- 
meter. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Square. 

Basement     ... 
Cone 

ft.  in. 
I    10 

6     5 

ft.   in. 
14  4 
II    3 

ft.  in. 
I   ol 

ft.   in. 
0     S 

ft.   in. 
2      0 

ft.   in. 
13    II 

ft.  in. 
0    II 

ft.  in. 
2     3 

ft.  in. 
I      4 

Markets  and  Fairs. 

Bridges  says  that  :  "  Here  are  three  weekly  mer- 
cates,  on  Monday,  Tliurfday,  and  Saturday,  the  two 
former  are  difufed  and  the  Saturday  s  mercate  much 
decayed.  There  are  likewife  at  Higham  feven  fairs, 
all  well  accuflomed  ;  on  the  Thurfday  before  St,  Pauls 
converfion,   the  feftival    of   S.    Matthias,  the    Thurfday 

t^"  Bridges'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  170. 


68     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

before  S.  Philip  and  James,  the  17  of  June,  the 
Thm-fday  before  S.  James,  on  Michaelmas-day,  and  on 
S.   Catherine  s!'  *"" 

In  1800  the  fairs  were  held  here  on  the  Tuesday 
before  the  5th  February,  the  7th  March,  the  3rd  May, 
the  28th  June,  the  Thursday  before  the  5th  August,  the 
loth  October,  and  the  17th  December.  These  fairs 
have  fallen  into  disuse,  but  a  large  pleasure  fair  is  held 
during  the  week  after  the  15th  August  in  each  year. 

The  markets  were  held  thrice  a  week  until  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  when  they  were  discon- 
tinued. In  October,  1888,  a  weekly  market  on  Monday 
was  established.     This  market  has  also  been  dropped. 

The  crosses  at  this  town  may  htly  illustrate  the 
only  passages  of  Shakespeare  relating  to  crosses. 

The  first  instance  alludes  to  the  usual  sentence 
passed  on  criminals  of  being  whipped,  at  the  market 
or  high  cross,  a  certain  number  of  times.  When  the 
would-be  lovers  of  Bianca  are  consulting  as  to  the  best 
method  of  obtaining  her  hand  by  fulfilling  her  father's 
condition  of  obtainins^  a  husband  for  his  elder  daughter, 
Hortensio  suggests  that  one  of  them  should  marry 
Katharina,  whereupon  Gremio  retorts  that  he  would 
"  as  lief  take  her  dowry  with  this  condition,  to  be 
whipped  at  the  high  cross  every  morning."  '^ 

The  second  instance  alludes  to  the  more  pleasing 
custom  of  persons  in  the  Middle  Ages  wandering  about 
the  country  and  praying  at  the  various  churchyard  or 
wayside  crosses.  When  Portia  is  at  Venice,  about  the 
business  of  her  husband's  friend,  she  sends  her  servant, 
Stephano,  to  carry  word  to  Lorenzo  of  her  speedy  return. 
So  Stephano  tells  him  that  his  mistress  "doth  stray 
about  by  holy  crosses,  where  she  kneels  and  prays  for 
happy  wedlock  hours."  ^'^ 

^''  Bridges'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  170. 
'*   The  Tamiii<(  of  the  Shrew,  Act  I.,  scene  i. 
^^  The  Merchant  of  Venice,  Act  V.,  scene  i. 


IR  THL  INGE  OR  OUGH. 


69 


IRTHLINGBOROUGH . 

The  large  and  growing  town  of  Irthlingborough  is 
five  miles  from  Wellingborough,  and  two  miles  from 
Higham  Ferrers  station  on  the  London  and  North 
Western   Railway. 

^Market  Cross. 

In  the  centre  of  this  old  town,  at  the  intersection  of  the 
road  leading  from   Higham   Ferrers  to  Wellingborough 


CVM.'ii 


IRTHLINGBOROUGH. 


with  the  road  leadin^^:  to  Finedon,  stands  the  market  cross. 
This  has  an  imposing  calvary  of  seven  octagonal 
steps  on  one  side  and  eight  on  the  other,  the  lower  or 
basement  one  being  divided  into  two  on  the  south  side, 
and  raised  a  good  height  above  the  road  on  masonry. 


JO     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

The  steps  are  very  irregular,  and  appear  nearly  circular 
in  plan.  The  socket  is  square,  and  quite  plain,  forming 
almost  a  cube.  The  shaft  is  mortised  into  the  socket ; 
it  is  square  below,  and  splayed  so  as  to  form  an  irregular 
octagon.  On  each  face,  at  unequal  distances,  are  carved 
ball-flowers,  somewhat  like  crockets.  The  capital  has 
carved  trefoil  foliage,  and  is  surmounted  by  a  square 
abacus.  At  the  top  of  the  capital  there  is  a  mortise- 
hole  6  in.  square.  The  whole  has  greatly  perished,  and 
the  carving  has  worn  down. 

This  cross  is  Early  English  in  character,  and  was 
probably  erected  about  1280.'*^  It  is  worthy  of  note 
that  the  abacus  is  set  on  the  shaft  diagonally  to  the 
base,  in  the  manner  said  by  Mr.  Ruskin  to  be  always 
adopted  by  northern  architects. 

According  to  Bridges,'^  this  shaft  was  used  as  a 
standard  for  adjusting  the  pole,  by  which  the  portions 
or  doles  of  the  adjoining  meadows  were  measured, 
previous  to  the  inclosure  of  the  parish  in   18 13. 

"  In  the  centre  of  the  village, 

\\'here  the  well-worn  roadways  meet, 
And  the  shadows  from  the  sunset 

Fall  slanting  o'er  the  street, 
Among  the  passing  people, 

With  their  ceaseless  ebb  and  flow, 
Still  rise  the  ancient  stones  which  bore 

The  cross  in  years  ago. 

*  *  *  * 

And  still  these  stones  are  standing, 

In  witness  of  the  past, 
With  mute  appeal  to  heaven, 

Though  skies  be  overcast ; 
They  tell  our  children's  children, 

'Mid  earthly  gain  or  loss, 
How  their  forefathers'  fathers 

Built  up  the  Village  Cross." ''- 

There  is  no  record  of  a  market  having  been  held 
at  this  place. 

'"  Chmxhcs  of  the  Archdeaconry  of  Northa7npton,  1849,  p.  130. 
"  Bridges'  A'ortliamplons/iirc,  Vol.  II.,  p.  235. 
"  The  Village  Cross,  by  Rev.  B.  Edwards,  M.A. 


IRTHLINGBOROUGH. 
Measurements. 


71 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Square. 

Basement    ... 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 
4th  step 
5th  step 
6th  step 
7th  step 
8th  step 

ft.   in. 
3    0 
0  10 

0  7 

1  0 
0    8 
0    9 
0  10 
0     8 

ft.    in. 
0     9^ 
0     8 
0  10 
0  II 

0  10 

1  4 
I      I 

I     oi 

ft.  in. 

I     6 

ft.  in. 
2     8 

ft.   in. 
13   0 

ft.  in. 
I      2 

ft.   in. 
0     9 

ft.   in. 
0   II 

Agnes  Barwick  of  Irthlingborough  by  her  will  in  1526 
left  "to  the  repacon  off  the  crosse  att  the  west  townes 
ende  xij'^  to  the  repacon  off  the  crosse  att  flanns  door 
xij''  to  the  repacon  off  the  causey  to  the  church  xij'\" 


KETTERING. 

The  large  and  rapidly  increasing  town  of  Kettering 
is  fourteen  miles  from  Northampton,  with  a  junction 
station  in  the  town  on  the   Midland   Railway. 

The  market  cross  in  this  town  stood  close  to  the  old 
market  house,  on  the  square  near  the  entrance  to  the 
churchyard.  This  cross,  which  had  a  dungeon  beneath 
it,  was  taken  down  about  1790.  A  smaller  cross  was 
then  erected  in  the  same  place  without  a  prison  ;  this 
also  was  destroyed  about  1808.  The  earlier  of  these 
crosses  is  shown  on  the  map  of  the  town  published  by 
T.  Eayre,  and  also  on  a  plan  of  the  town  dated  1785.'^ 

Three  other  crosses  are  shown  in  the  town  on  a 
map  drawn  about  1587  for  Sir  Christopher  Hatton  ;  one 
of  these,  at  Newland  Pond,  is  mentioned  by  Bridges.''' 

Richard  Alderman  of  Kettering,  by  his  will,  which 
was  proved  in  1543,  bequeathed  "to  the  making  of 
the  market  crosse  3''." 

"  Bull's  Kclicrhtg,  1891,  p.  161. 

^'  Bridges'  Norihanip{ons]uri\  Vol.  II.,  p.  241. 


72     STONE   CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Market   mid  Fairs. 

In  the  eleventh  year  of  Henry  III.  (1227-8),  a 
charter  was  granted  by  the  King  to  the  Abbot  of  Peter- 
borough to  hold  a  market  every  seventh  day  on  Friday. 

In  1661  Charles  II.  granted  to  Lord  Rockingham  the 
right  to  hold  a  fair  on  the  Thursday  before  Easter,  on  the 
Thursday  before  Saint  Michael  the  Archangel,  and  on  the 
Thursday  before  the  feast  of  Saint  Thomas  the  Apostle.''^ 

In  1800  fairs  were  held  on  the  Thursday  before 
Easter,  the  Thursday  before  the  loth  October,  and  on 
the  Thursday  before  the  21st  October. 

The  market  is  still  held,  but  the  fairs  have  fallen 
through. 


KING'S    CLIFF. 


The  village  of  King's 


Cliff 
from 


IS 


eight 
Oundle, 


miles 
with    a 


station  in  the  village  on 
the  London  and  North 
Western  Railway. 

Market  Cross. 

The  old  market  cross 
at  this  place  used  to 
stand  on  the  open  space 
to  the  south  of  the 
Cross  Keys  Inn.  Only 
the  socket  of  this  cross 
remained  there  until 
about  1820,  when  the 
late  Rector,  the  Ven. 
Archdeacon  Bonney,  re- 
moved  it  to   the    lower 

Rectory   garden,   where  it   now  stands  under  a  line  lime 

tree,  near  a  little  pond. 

'•■'  Bull's  Kettering,  1S91,  pp.  8,  22. 


KINGS    CI.IFF. 


KING'S    CLIFF. 


n 


The  stone  Is  octagonal,  about  i  ft.  high,  and  about 
2  ft.  6  in.  across.  The  mortise-hole  is  large  and  deep. 
Archdeacon  Bonney  placed  another  socket  within  this 
stone,  and  erected  on  this  socket  a  very  elegant  little 
cross.  This  is  carved  on  the  front  and  left  side,  the 
remaining  sides  being  plain  :  on  the  front  a  shield 
bears  the  Archdeacon's  arms,  on  a  bend  three  fieiir  de  lys, 
and  below  are  his  initials,  H.K.B. ;  on  the  side  is  the 
shield,  a  chevron  between  three  spear  heads. 

Measurements. 


OLD  SOCKET. 

NEW  SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Width. 

ft.     in. 
I        O 

ft.    in. 
I       3 

ft.     in. 
O      II 

ft.     in: 
I         2 

ft.     in. 
2        1\ 

ft.     in. 
O      6 

X 

o    5 

ft.     in. 
I        7 

ft.     in. 
I        7 

Henry  Kaye  Bonney  was  born  at  Tansor,  where 
his  father  was  Rector,  in  1780,  and  was  educated  at 
Charterhouse,  and  Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge.  He 
was  ordained  deacon  in  1803,  priest  the  next  year, 
and  in  1807  was  collated  to  the  Prebend  of  Nassington 
in  Lincoln  Cathedral.  The  Rev.  H.  K,  Bonney,  his 
father,  having  become  Rector  of  King's  Cliff,  he  lived 
with  him  until  his  death  in  18 10,  when  he  was  presented 
to  that  living  by  the  Earl  of  \\' estmorland.  In  181  5  he 
published  the  Life  of  the  Right  Rev.  Father  in  God 
ferejjiy  Taylor,  D.D.,  Chaplain  in  Ordinary  to  King 
Charles  the  First,  and  six  years  later  his  Historic  Notices 
in  Reference  to  Fotheringhay ;  and  he  also  published 
several  sermons  and  charges.  The  Archdeacon  died  at 
King's  Cliff  on  Christmas  Eve,  1862,  and  was  buried 
in  the  churchyard  there  by  the  side  of  his  wife. 

Market  and  Fair. 
Bridges  states  that  in  his  time  a  weekly  market  was 
held  at   King's  Cliff  on   Tuesday,   and   a   fiir   for    three 


74     STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

days,  beginning  on  Saint  Luke's  eve.  He  also  mentions 
that  •'  on  Chriftmas  day  the  paridiioners  with  the  clerk 
affemble  at  the  church,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  fmg  a  Pfalm  ;  then  they  proceed  to  the  crofs,  and 
to  every  gentleman's  houfse  in  the  town,  for  which  they 
receive  a  largefs  in  the  holidays."  "'^ 

This  place  was  a  market  town  in  1720,  the  market 
being  held  on  the  Tuesday  ;  but  the  fair  was  held  on 
Saint  George's  day  (April  23rd)." 

In  1800  the  fair  was  held  on  the  29th  October. 


KINGSTHORP. 

The  village  of  Kingsthorp  is  two  miles  from 
Northampton. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

Bridges,  writing  about  1700,  states  that:  "Within 
the  churchyard,  near  the  south  door  of  the  church,  are 
fhill  remaining  the  fleps  and  ftump  of  a  crofs."  '^ 

A  correspondent,  however,  writing  to  William  Hone 
about  1830,  says  :  "  I  have  sought  for  this  relic  in  vain. 
It  has  yielded  to  the  great  destroyer  '  Time,'  or  perhaps 
to  the  yet  more  destructive  judgment  of  some  Dogberry 
of  a  churchwarden."  ''^ 

Even  the  memory  of  this  cross  has  now  been 
obliterated. 

LICHBOROUGH. 

The  village  of  Lichborough  is  five  and  a  half  miles 
from  Towcester,  and  three  and  a  half  miles  from  Blakesley 
station  on  the  East  and  West  Junction  Railway. 

'^  Bridges'  Nort]ia7npto7ishirc,  Vol.  II.,  p.  432. 

"'''  Alas^na  Britannia,  by  Rev.  T.  Cox,  1720,  p.  472. 

"  Bridges'  Norilianiptonshirc,  Vol.  I.,  p.  413. 

''•»  The  Year  Book,  by  William  Hone,  1838,  p.  1,169. 


LICHBOROUGH. 


7S 


To  the  south-west  of  the  tower  of  this  church  is  a 
dilapidated  socket,  ii  in.  high,  and  oblong  in  form,  one 
side  being  2  ft.  8  in.  and  the  other  i  ft.  7  in.  ;  in  the 
centre  is  a  square  mortise-hole,  io\  in.  across  and  7  in. 
deep.  It  rests  on  some  large  stones.  This  socket  for 
a  long  time  stood  by  the  village  inn,  until  a  few  years 
ago,  when  it  was  placed  in  its  present  position  in  the 
churchyard.  It  is  impossible  to  say  if  it  originally 
formed  part  of  a  churchyard  or  village  cross. 


LONGTHORR 

The  little  village  of  Longthorp,  formerly  part  of 
Saint  John  the  Baptist  parish,  is  two  miles  from  Peter- 
borough. 

Village  Crosses. 

At  the  eastern  end  of  this  village,  in  a  cottage  garden, 
are  the  remains  of  the  socket  and  shaft  of  a  cross.     The 

socket  measures  2  ft.  9 
in.  by  2  ft.  10  in.  In 
the  centre  is  mortised 
the  shaft,  which  measures 
I  ft.  5  in.  by  10  in.  at  the 
bottom,  and  i  ft.  3  in. 
by  8  in.  at  the  top,  where 
it  has  been  broken  off 
The  present  height  is 
6  ft.  9  in.  At  each 
angle  is  a  vertical  roll 
moulding.  On  one  of 
the  narrow  faces  is  a 
continuous  band  of  angular  plait-work  of  four  bands. 
About  halfway  up  the  shaft  are  the  remains  of  irons, 
which  were  possibly  used  to  secure  the  hands  of  persons 
who  were  whipped  at  this  cross. 


m^, 


LONGTHORP. 


"je    STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


LONGTHORP. 


At  the  western  end  of  the  village,  under  spreading 
elm   trees,  there  is   the   socket  of  another  cross.     This 

is  square,  each  face  measuring 
2  ft.  2  in.,  the  angles  being 
worn  off  The  mortise-hole 
measures  i  ft.  i  in.  by  lo  in., 
and  is  4  in.  deep.  The  upper 
surface  of  this  stone  is  about 
9  in.  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground. 

This  socket,  by  the  way,  had  a  narrow  escape  from 
■destruction  some  few  years  ago.  An  enterprising  native 
of  the  village,  thinking  that  it  would  make  a  good  pig- 
trough  (which  no  doubt  it  would  have  done),  quietly 
took  it  away  to  his  own  premises  ;  but  the  writer  is 
glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  public  opinion  was  too 
strong  for  this  would-be  desolator,  and  so  it  was  restored 
to  its  accustomed  spot.  It  is  not  probable  that  any 
other  Thorp  man  will  attempt  to  remove  this  ancient 
landmark. 


MARHAM. 


Village  Cross. 

The  little  village  of  Marham,  or  Marholme,  is  four 
and  a  half  miles  from  Peterborough,  and  one  and  a  half 
mile  from  Walton  station  on  the  Midland  Railway. 

At  the  entrance  of  this  village,  by 
the  side  of  the  road,  is  the  socket  of  an 
ancient  cross  of  unusual  shape.  It  is 
formed  out  of  a  single  block  of  stone  ; 
the  lower  portion  is  9  in.  high,  and 
six    sides    each    i    ft.   6   in.   wide.      At   each   angle 


has 


there  is  a  semi-circular  knob,  bringing  the  upper  portion, 
which  is  I  ft.  high,  to  twelve  sides  slightly  tapering. 


MAKE  y. 


77 


MAXEY. 

The  village  of  Maxey  is  eight  miles  from  Peter- 
borough, and  two  miles  from  Helpston  station  on  the 
Midland  Railway. 

At  or  near  this  village  there  were  formerly  three 
crosses,  one  of  which  was  known  as  the  "  Butter  Cross." 

The  earliest  of  these  was  undoubtedly  Late  Norman. 
The  fragment  now  remain- 
ing is  about  5  ft.  4  in.  long  ; 
I  ft.  9  in.  wide  at  the  lower, 
and  I  ft.  5  in.  at  the  upper 
end  ;  10  in.  thick  at  the 
lower,  and  i  ft.  5  in.  at  the 
upper  end.  The  two  nar-  ^^:tt!i^^^ 
rower  sides  are  covered  with 
the  zig-zag  ornament,  which  maxey. 

has  been  apparently  worked 

by    a    chisel.     The    two    broader    sides    were    probably 
left  plain. 

This  stone  has  been  utilised  as  a  bench  at  the  back 
of  a  cottage  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  village  ;  but  it  is 
worthy  of  a  better  fate,  as  it  is  one  of  the  very  few 
fragments  of  a  Norman  cross  still  remaining  in  the 
country. 

The  socket  of  another  cross  now  stands  in  the 
garden  of  an  old  farmhouse  in  the  hamlet  of  Deeping 
Gate,  in  the  parish  of  Maxey,  belonging  to  Mr.  George 
Moor. 

This  stone  is  i  ft.  3  in.  high,  and  2  ft.  2  in.  square 
at  the  base  ;  the  angles  are  worked  with  a  kind  of 
turned-up  claw,  and  there  is  a  moulding  round  the  upper 
edge,  where  the  stone  is  octagonal.  The  mortise-hole 
is  I  ft.  6  in.  in  diameter,  and  is  circular,  which  is  a  very 
unusual  form. 

This   socket    is    well    designed    and   worked,  and   it 


78     STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

must  hav^e  formed  part  of  an  important  cross,  probably 
the  Butter  Cross,  before  mentioned.  Early  thirteenth 
century. 

The  third  of  these  crosses  now  consists  of  a  small 
circular  socket  and  octagonal  shaft  about  3  ft.  6  in. 
high.  It  has  no  architectural  features,  and  is  much 
worn. 

This  cross  has  been  recently  moved  by  the  Vicar,  the 
Rev.  W.  D.  Sweeting,  to  a  position  within  the  railings 
in  front  of  the  village  school. 


MEAR'S  ASHBY. 

The  village  of  Mear's  Ashby  is  seven  miles  from 
Northampton,  and  three  miles  from  Castle  Ashby 
station  on  the  London  and   North  Western   Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  church  is  the  cross-head  of  a  small  Saxon 
shaft. ^°  It  is  of  Celtic  form,  with  arms  having  expanded 
ends  connected  by  a  circular  ring.  It  is  i  ft.  4^  in.  in 
diameter  across  the  arms,  in  the  centre  it  is  5  in.  and 
at  the  edges  3I  in.  thick.  The  tenon 
for  fixing  this  stone  into  the  shaft  still 
remains  ;  it  is  i^  in.  long,  4  in.  wide, 
and  3  in.  thick.  The  four  holes  be- 
tween the  cross  and  the  ring  are 
about  i^  in.  in  diameter,  and  pass 
right  through  the  stone.  Both  sides 
of  the  stone  are  covered  with  inter- 
lacing work,  but  it  is  of  very  de- 
based form,  the  crossings  over  and  under  not  being 
regularly    observed.      It    is    similar    to    inferior    metal 


MEAK  S    ASllIiV. 


w 


ork. 


Associated  Architectural  Societies  Reports,  Vol.  XIX.,  p.  413. 


MORTON  PINKENEY. 


79 


MORTON    PINKENEY. 

This  village  is  nine  miles  from  Towcester,  and  half 
a  mile  from  Morton  Pinkeney  station  on  the  East  and 
West  Junction   Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  the  south-east  corner  of  the   churchyard   of  this 
village,  the  base,  socket,  and  a  small 
piece  of  the  cross  still  remain. 

The  base  is  2  ft.  2  in.  square  at 
the  ground-line  ;  3  in.  above  this  line 
there  is  a  bevelled  set-back  from 
which  the  socket  proper  starts.  This 
is  I  ft.  8  in.  square,  and  is  worked 
to  an  octagon  by  bold  convex  stops, 
the  upper  edge  being  again  bevelled.  The  whole 
of  the  socket  is  formed  of  one  stone. 

The  shaft  is  10  in.  square  and  9  in.  high,  and  is 
fixed  in  the  socket  with  lead. 

MOULTON. 

The  village  of  Moulton  is  four  and  a  half  miles  from 
Northampton,  and  three  and  a  half  miles  from  Pitsford 
station  on  the   London  and   North  Western   Railway. 

In  this  parish  there  are  two  hills  called  Cross-h.\\\s  ; 
and  Bridges  states  that  "  the  remains  of  one  of  the 
Croffes  (landing  upon  them  were  lately  [about  1 700] 
to  be  feen."*^ 

Churchyard  Cross. 

When  this  church  was  restored  in  1884-6  a  portion 
of  an  ancient  cross,  of  Saxon  date,  was  discovered 
under  the  altar  steps. 

This  stone  is  of  oolite,  2  ft.  2  in.  long,  i  ft.  6  in. 
by  9  in.  at  the  bottom,  and  tapers  to    i  ft.  4  in.  by  8  in. 

"'  Bridges'  Noriliamp1onshin\  Vol.  I.,  p.  417. 


8o     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


at  the  top.      It  is  only  carved  on  two  sides,  the  others 
being  plain. 

On  the  front  are  two  panels,  the  upper  containing  a 

beast,  turned  to  the  right 
side,  his  fore  paw  upraised, 
his  head  looking  backward, 
and  biting  his  tongue  ;  the 
lower  containing  a  piece 
of  interlaced  work,  com- 
posed of  a  double  row  of 
spiral  knots,  the  knots  on 
the  right  side  being  alter- 
nately right-  and  left- 
handed,  and  those  on  the 
left  side  alternately  left- 
and  right-handed. 

On  one  side  is  a  con- 
tinuous band  of  interlaced 
work,  composed  of  a 
double  row  of  spiral  knots, 
those  on  the  right  side 
being  all  left-handed  and  those  on  the  left  side  all  right- 
handed. 

Patterns  formed  from  the  spiral  knot  are  only  found 
in  interlaced  work  of  the  best  quality,  where,  as  in  this 
stone,  the  lapping  of  the  bands  is  regularly  perfect.^" 

This  cross  was  perhaps  broken  when  Moulton  church 
was  destroyed  in  i  264,  buried  in  the  ruins,  and  forgotten. 
It  was  placed  in  its  present  position  in  the  south 
chantry,,  on  a  pedestal  against  the  north  wall,  by  the 
late  Sir  Henry  Dryden,  Bart.,  and  the  following  entry 
appears  in  the  accounts  of  the  restoration  : 

"  Providing  base,  etc.,  to  Saxon  stone  and  fixing 

the   same    in    South    Ais!e    over    and    above      s.     d. 
10/-  paid  by  Sir  Henry  Dryden,   Bart.  .         .     6     o." 

^2  Associated  ArcJiiicctural  Societies'  Reports,  Vol.  XIX.,  p.  .'4 14. 


MOULTOX. 


NASEBY. 


NASEBY. 

The  village  of  Naseby  is  four  miles  from  Welford, 
and  the  same  distance  from  Kelmarsh  station  on  the 
London  and   North  Western   Railway. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  village  is  a  stone  socket  and 
shaft,  mentioned  hereafter  as  the  village  cross.  This 
formerly  stood  on  the  green  due  north  of  the  church, 
and  is  well  shown  in  a  sepia  print  called  "  Avon  Head, 
Naseby,  Northamptonshire,"  published  about  1800  by 
Sam.  Ireland,  where  it  is  shown  with  two  steps,  the 
lower  being  about  3  ft.  high,  a  socket,  a  circular  shaft 
about  8  ft.  high,  surmounted  by  a  square  abacus  and 
globe. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

The  old  stones  which  formed  the  base  of  this  cross 
on  the  village  green  probably  still  remain  in  their 
original  position,  although  now  enclosed  in  the  church- 
yard,  in  consequence  of  the  wall  having  been   moved. 

These  old  stones  now  form  the  foundation  of  the 
modern  cross.  This  consists  of  a  large  square  socket, 
a  tall,  square,  massive  shaft,  with  the  edges  slightly 
chamfered,  and  having  a  well-designed 
head  of  the   Ionian  type. 

Village   Cross. 

The  remains  of  this  now  stand  at 
the  junction  of  the  road  leading  to 
Market  Harborough  with  the  road 
leading  to   Hazelbeach. 

It  only  consists  of  a  socket,  i  ft. 
3  in.  high  and  2  ft.  9  in.  square,  the 
upper  surface  much  worn,  so  as  to 
form  steps  at  the  corners.  The  shaft 
was  once  octagonal,  but  has  been  so 
much   rubbed  as   to  be   now  almost  round.      It  is   7  ft. 

6 


82     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

high  and  about  9  in.  in  diameter ;  and  is  fixed  in  the 
socket  with  lead,  and  about  half-way  up  encircled  by 
two  flat  iron  bands.  On  the  base  is  scratched  the 
date   1 80 1. 

The  Monument. 

A  short  distance  from  the  village,  on  the  right  hand 
side  of  the  Market  Harborough  road,  standing  on  a 
mound,  and  surrounded  by  trees,  is  the  so-called  obelisk. 
This  is  built  of  large  squared  stones,  mounted  on  a 
square  rough  stone  base,  and  on  the  side  is  a  large 
slab,  which  bears  the  legend  : — 

"To  commemorate 

that  great  and  decisive  battle 

fought  in  this  field 

on  the  xiv  day  of  June  mdcxlv. 

between  the  royalist  army 

commanded  by  His  Majesty 

King  Charles  the   First, 

And  the  Parliament  forces 

headed  by  the  Generals  Fairfax  and  Cromwell, 

which  terminated  fatally 

for  the  royal  cause, 

led  to  the  subversion  of  the  throne, 

the  altar,  and  the  constitution, 

and  for  years  plunged  this  nation 

into  the  horrors  of  anarchy 

and  civil  war  ; 

leaving  a  useful  lesson  to  British  kings  : 

never  to  exceed  the  bounds 

of  their  just  prerogative, 

and  to  British  subjects, 

never  to  swerve  from  the  allegiance 

due  to  their  legitimate  monarch. 

This  pillar  was  erected 

by  John  and  Mary  Frances  Fitzgerald, 

Lord  and  Lady  of  the  ALanor  of  Naseby  : 

A.D.    MDCCCXXIII." 

This  monument  is  at  some  distance  from  the  actual 
field  of  battle. 


NASS/NGTON. 


83 


NASSINGTON. 

The  village  of  Nassington  is  five  and  a  half  miles 
from  Oundle,  with  a  station  in  the  village  on  the  London 
and  North  Western   Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

When  this  beautiful  church  was  restored  in  1884, 
part  of  the  shaft  of  a  Saxon  cross  was  discovered  near 


mm 


I  ■ 


t...ijLA.fZ-^^'^ 


NASSINGTON. 


the  foundation  of  the  north  wall,  and  this  was  placed 
on  a  stone  base  in  the  north  aisle.^^ 

This  stone  is  of  oolite,  and  is  3  ft.  high,  i  ft.  4  in. 
by  9  in.  at  the  bottom,  tapering  to  i  ft.  3  in.  by  7  in. 
at  the  top,  and  is  carved  on  each  face. 

On  the  front  there  are  two  panels.  The  lower  one 
contains  a  representation  of  the  Crucifixion,  with  the 
sun  and  moon  appearing  above  the  arms  of  the  cross. 

*^  Gordon's  Nassington-ciim-YariucU,  1890,  p.  59. 


84     STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTH AMPTONS HIRE. 

Beneath  our  Saviour's  right  arm  stands  he  who  "  ran, 
and  took  a  spunge,  and  filled  it  with  vinegar,  and  put 
it  on  a  reed,  and  gave  him  to  drink "  ;  and  beneath 
His  left  arm  "  one  of  the  soldiers  "  who  "  with  a 
spear  pierced  his  side."  The  undraped  figure  of  Christ 
is  extended  on  a  broad-faced  cross,  His  head  erect, 
His  arms  slightly  bent,  and  His  feet  separated,  as  in 
the  earlier  Byzantine  type.  The  upper  panel  contains 
the  figure  of  a  man,  wearing  spreading  clothes,  reaching 
to  his  knees.  The  stone  is  unfortunately  broken  just 
below  the  waist  of  this  figure,  so  that  it  is  impossible 
to  say  with  certainty  what  this  panel  represented,  but 
it  was  probably  intended  for  the  Ascension. 

On  the  right  side  there  is  a  continuous  pattern  of 
two  bands,  which  form  figures  of  eight — the  design 
which  the  Wake  family  adopted  as  their  crest,  and 
which  became  known  as  the  "  Wake  knot." 

On  the  left  side  there  is  a  growing  undulating  stem, 
with  short  branches  curvinor  off  rio^ht  and  left,  each 
terminating  with  a  small  bunch  of  grapes,  each  composed 
of  four  berries.  This  was  evidently  intended  to  repre- 
sent "  the  True  Vine."  but  the  design  is  rather  poor. 

On  the  back  there  is  a  very  beautiful  pattern  of 
interlaced  work,  the  bands  of  which  form  four  circular 
knots,  the  crossings  of  which  are  perfectly  regular. 
The  two  upper  knots  are  similar,  but  it  will  be  noticed 
that  the  lower  knot  is  surrounded  by  a  complete  ring, 
which  by  interlocking  with  the  bands  makes  the 
crossing  of  this  knot  opposite  to  the  other  two.  These 
concentric  circles  are  characteristic  of  Celtic  work  of  the 
best  period.^^ 

The  ornamentation  of  this  cross  is  very  like  that 
of  the  crosses  at   Eyam,   co.    Derby,   and  at   lona. 

**  Associated  Architectural  Societies'  Reports^  Vol.  XIX.,  p.  414. 


NEWTON  BROMSWOLD.  85 


NEWTON  BROMSWOLD. 

The  little  village  of  Newton  Bromswold  is  four  and 
a  half  miles  from  the  town  and  station  of  Hicham 
Ferrers  on  the  Midland   Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

A  little  south-east  of  the  south  porch  was  the  church- 
yard cross,  of  which  only  the  socket  remains  in  its 
original  position,  l^his  measures  2  ft.  by  2  ft.  2  in., 
and  is  6  in.  high.  The  upper  edge  is  bevelled,  and 
in  the  centre  is  the  mortise-hole,  9  in.  square. 


NEWTONTN^THE^WILLOWS. 

The  little  village  of  Newton-in-the-Willows  is  five 
miles  from  Kettering  and  one  and  a  half  mile  from 
Geddington  station  on  the  Midland  Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  little  churchyard,  on  the  south-west  of  the 
south  door,  is  the  socket  of  an  ancient  cross.^^' 

This  stone  has  the  upper  bed  octagonal,  with  plain 
broaches  at  the  angles  ;    it   measures  _^^ 

2  ft.    -x   in.  square  below,   and  is   i    ft.  >^----^^fc 

3  m.  nigh,  it  has  a  plam  circular  ^^^B* — -^^'^'CH 
moulding  round  the  upper  edge.  ^Jl  \  '■  ^M 
The  mortise  is  also  octagonal  ;  each  'SSiW^^si^:^!^^' 
race   measures    5 4  in.,   and  it  is  4   in. 

deep.        1  his    socket     has     evidently 

been  moved,  and  in    its    present    position    it    does    not 

stand  square  with  the  church. 

*^  Bridges'  NortIia?np/ons/ii>r,  Vol.  H.,  p.  324. 


86    SrOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPrONSHIRE. 


NORTHAMPTON. 

In  the  county  borough  of  Northampton  there  are 
three  stations,  the  Castle  and  Bridge  Street  stations 
of  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway,  and  the 
station  at  the  bottom  of  Guildhall  Road  of  the  Midland 
Railway. 

SAINT    PETER'S. 

Church  YARD  Cross. 

Near  the  Castle  station  stands  the  fme  old  Norman 
church  of  Saint  Peter,  which  was  restored  by  Sir 
Gilbert  Scott  in  1850-2. 

When  the  chancel  was  rebuilt,  the  bases  of  the 
two    western    responds    of    the     Norman    arcade    were 


NORTIIAMl'TON,    SAINT   PETERS. 

discovered  to  be  formed  out  of  Saxon  cross  shafts. 
These  stones,  which  are  oolite,  were  removed  to  the 
Northampton   Museum,  where  they   now  remain.**^ 

The   first  of  these   is    i  ft.    10^  in.  high,  i  ft.  9 J  in. 
broad,  and    10  in.   thick.     At  the    angles    is    the    cable 

^  Associati'.d  Architcctu7-al  Societies'  Reports,  Vol.  XIX.,  p.  415. 


NORTHAMPTON.  87 

moulding  ;  and  on  the  front  there  is  a  continuous  pattern 
of  interlaced  work,  which  is  formed  of  four  horizontal 
and  six  vertical  rows  of  figures  of  eight  knots,  the 
terminations  of  which  are  very  irregular,  as  the  bands 
split  and  branch  into  two  or  three  heads.  On  the  left 
side  there  are  some  remains  of  foliage,  but  they  are 
so  much  damaged  that  the  pattern  cannot  be  made  out. 
The  other  faces  of  the  stone  have  been   cut  away. 

The  second  of  these  stones  is  also  a  piece  of  cross 
shaft,  very  much  defaced,  but  on  the  front  and  right 
side  there  is  some  conventional  foliage. 


THE    HOLY    SEPULCHRE. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  the  wall  of  a  house  on  the  south  side  of  this 
churchyard  there  is  a  small  stone  crucifix  ;  it  is  now 
about  20  in.  high  and  19  in.  wide,  and  when  perfect 
was  about  30  in.  high.^' 

The  figure  of  Christ  is  somewhat  rudely  carved. 
The  head  is  erect  and  the  eyes  open,  and  it  is  surrounded 
by  a  cruciform  nimbus.  The  arms  are  horizontal,  and 
the  hands  flat,  but  the  nails  are  not  shown.  The  body 
is  clothed  from  the  waist  to  the  knees,  and  the  leQfs  are 
not  crossed. 

This  stone  is  probably  of  early  fifteenth-century 
workmanship,  and  was  perhaps  a  gable  cross  placed  on 
some  part  of  the  church  when  the  tower  and  spire  were 
built.^**  It  is  possible  that  it  formed  the  head  of  some 
churchyard  cross  ;  but  if  so,  it  is  a  unique  example.  It 
has  also  been  suggested  that  this  crucifix  once  formed 
the  apex  of  Queen  Eleanor's  cross  at  Hardingston  ;  but 

*'  Northamptonshire  Notes  and  Queries,  Vol.  II.,  p.  239,  vvitli  repro- 
duction of  Carter's  drawing  of  the  crucifix,  made  on  the  13th  October,  1782. 

*'  Cox  and  Serjeantson's  History  of  the  Chnrch  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre, 
Northaj/ipton,  1897,  p.  120. 


88     STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTOXSHIRE. 

this  theory  is  too  absurd  to  need  refutation,  as  any  one 
who  saw  the  two  works  would  admit.  A  more  plausible 
idea  is  that  it  formed  the  "  Rode  of  the  Wall  "  at  Our 
Lady  of  Grace,  being  the  church  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
in  St.  Mary's  Street.^^  But  this  idea  also  is  probably 
erroneous. 

The  legend  connected  with  this   crucifix  is  that  on 


"^■^  •^^    *^p.i— . • , »,•* 


4 


.»,  ■':'~0  -^ \ 


1  mfSSS^  K-^-''  '    " 


^^^  \  i 


NORTHAMPTON,    HOLY    SEPULCHRE. 


Good  Friday,  1277,  the  Jews  crucified  a  boy  at 
Northampton,  and  that  this  stone  was  carved  and 
erected  in  commemoration  of  the  event.  Indeed,  it  is 
asserted  by  some  that  the  figure  represents  the  crucified 
boy.  This  legend  is,  however,  common  to  Bury  St. 
Edmunds,  Lincoln,   Norwich,  and  other  places.     There 

^*  Notes  atid  Queries,  Fourth  Series,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  124. 


NOR  THA  MPT  ON,  89- 

is  no  need  to  give  any  credence  to  it  ;  and  it  appears 
certain  that  in  each  case  the  legend  was  a  simple  myth. 

Market  Cross. 

From  early  times  a  market  cross  stood  in  the  centre 
of  the  market  square,  and  this  cross  is  mentioned  in 
several  fourteenth-  and  fifteenth-century  deeds. ''^  This 
was  probably  a  simple  shaft,  on  steps,  with  a  cross  on 
the  summit. 

A  large  and  handsome  building  was  erected  in  1535, 
and  is  thus  described  in  Lee's  MS.  history  of  the  town  : 

"In  y''  vi'^  yeare  of  y*"  Reigne  of  King  Henry  8*^'' 
Anno  Dni  1535,  Laurence  Manley  Mayor  was  the  Cross 
in  the  Markett  Place  made  there  were  8  large  stones 
sett  in  the  Ground  ab'  2  feet  high  cutt  and  carved  and 
upon  them  8  large  Fillers  of  Timber  with  carved  Work 
upon  them.  They  did  bear  up  y"  Roof  and  y*"  Timbers 
from  one  Filler  to  the  next  piller  was  arched  and 
carved.  In  y®  middle  was  3  Steps  or  rounds  of  Stone 
to  sit  upon  and  to  go  from  y'^  middle  of  y®  Cross  by  a 
small  paire  of  staires  into  y"*  Lanthorne  or  little 
Chamber  where  were  lodged  y*"  Markett  Strike  and 
other  Utensells  belonging  to  y^  Markett  and  a  doore  at 
y*"  foot  of  y*"  Stairs  lockt  up  from  Markett  to  Markett. 
The  whole  Cross  was  covered  all  over  with  lead  and 
y*"  Lanthorne  well  glased  and  little  Fosts  from  every 
square  all  covered  with  Lead  and  Apes  at  y®  Tops  of 
them  with  little  Iron  Rods  in  their  hands  with  Fanes  on 
y°  Tops  of  them.  The  Compass  of  y^  Cross  was  so 
large  y*  betwene  y"  Lanthorne  and  y*  outsides  of  y^  cross 
where  Battelments  were  built  I  have  seen  Men  walk 
several  times.  The  whole  was  sett  out  and  beautified 
with  branches  of  lead  and  upon  all  squares  little  parcels 
of  lead  like  coats  of  arms  guilt  and  a  great  ornament  to 
y*^  place. 

^^  Northampton  Borough  Records,  Vol.  II.,  p.  193. 
^^  Lee's  Collections, 


90     STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

A  few  years  before  the  erection  of  the  cross,  the 
square  was  paved  for  the  convenience  of  holding  a 
market.^" 

On  the  19th  January,  1670,  the  Town  Assembly 
ordered   "that  a   shead    be   built   of  Bord   and   Timber 


NORTH  AM  TTON. 


at  the  Chamber  Charge  for  the  Judges  to  sitt  in  next 
Assizes  and  to  be  built  in  some  convenient  place  within 
the  body  of  the  Towne  for  that  purpose." 

This  shed  was  accordingly  erected  on  the  market 
square,  adjoining  the  cross. 

On  the  20th  September,  1675,  the  great  and  dreadful 

**  Bridges'  Northa}npio?ishirc,  Vol.  I.,  p.  432. 


NORTHAMPTON.  91 

fire  occurred,  and  this  consumed  almost  the  whole  of 
the  town;  for  it  "spared  neither  Cross  nor  Pump, 
nor  Timber  drawn  into  the  Market-place  for  the 
Sessions-house."  ^^ 

Markets  and  Fairs. 

Henry  III.,  by  his  letters  patent  dated  6th  November, 
1 2 18,  gave  directions  for  holding  a  fair  at  North- 
ampton. The  fairs  at  this  town  are  also  mentioned 
in  the  charter  of  the  forty-first  year  of  Henry  HI.  ; 
but  their  dates  are  not  mentioned."'^ 

Edward  HI.,  by  his  charter  dated  the  i8th  March, 
1337,  granted  the  Mayor,  bailiffs,  and  burgesses  of 
Northampton  liberty  to  hold  a  fair  yearly,  to  commence 
on  the  Monday  next  after  the  octave  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  (the  second  Monday  after  Trinity  Sunday),  and 
to  last  for  twenty-seven  days  thence  next  ensuing.^^ 

This  fair  was  probably  not  of  long  duration. 

Henry  VII.,  by  his  charter  dated  22nd  December, 
1495,  granted  two  fairs  every  year:  one  on  the  feast 
of  Saint  George  the  Martyr  (April  23rd),  and  the  day 
preceding  and  the  six  days  following  the  feast ;  and 
the  other  on  the  feast  of  Saint  Hugh  the  Bishop 
(17th  November),  and  the  day  preceding  and  the  six 
days  following  the  feast. ^'^ 

Queen  Elizabeth,  by  letters  patent  dated  the  3rd 
April,  1 599,  granted  to  the  Mayor,  baihffs,  and  burgesses 
of  Northampton  that  they  might  hold  a  free  market 
within  the  town  on  the  Wednesday,  Friday,  and 
Saturday  in  each  week  ;  and  seven  fairs  yearly — namely, 
on  the  feast  of  Saint  George  the  Martyr  (23rd  April), 
the  feast  of  Saint  Hugh  the  Bishop  (17th  November),  the 

93  The   State  of  Northmnptvn  from   the   Beginning   of  tlie   Fire   (2otli 
September  to  5th  November,   1675.) 

^^  Northampton  Borough  Records,  \'o\.  I.,  pp.  35,  47. 

95  J  bid.,  I.,  p.  67. 

96  Jbid.,  I.,  p.  107. 


92     STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

Nativity  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  (ist  January),  the 
feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
(25th  March),  the  Conception  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
(8th  December),  the  Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary  (15th  August),  and  the  feast  of  Saint  James  the 
Apostle  (27th   December).''" 

By  the  last  charter  granted  to  the  town  by  George 
III.,  dated  2nd  April,  1796,  nine  fairs  were  licensed 
every  year — on  the  25th  February,  5th  April,  4th  May, 
19th  June,  5th  August,  26th  August,  19th  September, 
2Sth  November,  and  19th  December,  and  the  day 
preceding  and  the  day  following  each  of  those  days. 
The  new  fairs  were  on  the  20th  February  and  the 
19th  June. 

Three  markets  were  also  granted,  to  be  held  on 
the  Wednesday,  Friday,  and  Saturday  ;  the  Friday 
market  is  not  now  held. 

Fairs  are  now  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  in 
January,  20th  February,  third  Monday  in  March,  5th 
April,  4th  May,  19th  June,  5th  August,  26th  August, 
19th  September,  first  Thursday  in  November,  28th 
November,  and  the  Friday  before  the  Great  Smithfield 
market. 


OUNDLE. 

Bridge  Crosses. 

The  southern  bridge,  which  was  built  of  stone  and 
mortar,  and  called  Crowthorp  Bridge,  was  t  2  ft.  between 
the  two  crosses  which  stood  on  it,  and  extended  20  ft. 
from  one  cross  towards  the  north  and  40  ft.  from  the 
other  cross  towards  the  south. 

"  Le  pont  ke  est  appelle  en  Engleys  Crowethorpbrigge, 
ke  est   de  pere  e  de  morter  et  ke  mene  outre  lewe  ke 

'^''Northampton  Borough  Records,  \o\.  I.,  p.  120. 


OUNDLE. 


93 


est  appelle  Nene  de  Undel  vers  le  norht  et  Crowthorp 
vers  le  suht,  la  laure  del  pont  partit  xij.  peez  de  homme 
par  entre  les  deus  croiz  esteauns  sur  mesme  le  pont, 
a  XX.  peez  de  homme  de  la  croiz  ver  le  norht  e  a  xl. 
peez  de  homme  de  lautre  croiz  vers  le  suht." 

This  curious  record  of  two  bridge  crosses  occurs  in 
the  Coronei's  Roll,  in  consequence  of  one  William 
Castle,  of  Barnwell,  having  been  murdered  on  Whit 
Monday,  13 12,  near  the  said  crosses,''^ 

Market  Cross. 

In  this  town,  in  the  open  space  at  the  top  of 
Saint  Osyth's  Lane,  to  the  east  of  the  Town  Hall,  stood 


OUNDLE. 


the  old    market  cross.      This   consisted    of  tw^o  octagon 
stone  steps,  each   with   an  over-hanging  drij),  a   square 

^^  Coroner's  Roll,  1262   1413,  eci.  by  Cliarles  Cross,  1896,  p.  64. 


94     STO.VE    CROSSES    OF  XORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

socket,  inscribed  with  the  date  "  1591."  ^ind  a  stone  or 
wooden  shaft  of  great  height.  It  was  surrounded  by 
a  pent-house  built  of  timber,  also  octagonal,  with  a  high- 
pitched  roof,  covered  by  Colly  Weston  slates. 

This  building  is  well  shown  in  three  lithographs  of 
Oundle.  The  first,  reproduced  here,  is  lettered  "J.  S. 
del  &  Lithogy.  Printed  by  W.  Day,  59,  Great  Queen 
Street,  London.  Oundle.  Sold  by  Mr.  Mountain  & 
Mr.  Leight,  Oundle."  The  other  two  views  are  half 
the  size  of  the  first,  and  are  lettered  "  Market  Cross, 
Oundle,"  and   "St.   Osyth's   Lane,   Oundle." 

This  cross  is  not  mentioned  in  Bridges'  History  of 
this  country  ;  so  it  was  perhaps  erected  on  the  base 
of  an  old  cross,  after  he  collected  his  information.  It 
has  been  long  since  destroyed. 

Market  and  Fairs. 

In  Bridges'  time  he  says  that  :  "  Here  is  a  mercate 
on  Saturday,  and  fairs,  on  Valentine  s  day,  Whitfun- 
Monday,  and  on  the  loth  of  Auguft."^^ 

In  1800  the  market  was  held  on  Saturday,  and  the 
fairs  on  the  25th  February,  Whit  Monday,  and  the 
21st  August. 

The  February  fair  is  known  as  "  the  Valentine 
Horse  Fair,"  and  is  now  held  on  the  Thursday  nearest 
the  25th  February.  At  one  time  this  fair  lasted  three 
days,  and  was  one  of  the  largest  and  best  horse  fairs 
in  the   Midlands. 

The  market  is  now  held  on  Thursday,  and  the  fairs 
on  the  25th  February,  on  Whit  Monday,  and  on  the 
1  2th   October. 

■'^  Bridges'  Northamptonshire yVo\.  II.,  p.  404. 


PEA  KIRK. 


9S- 


PEAKIRK. 

The  villaee  of  Peakirk  is  five  and  a  half  miles  from 
Peterborough,  with  a  station  in  the  village  on  the  Great 
Northern  Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

The  shaft  of  a  Saxon  cross  was  found  here  during 
the   repair  of  the  church,  and  is   now  preserved  in  the 


Hermitage  Chapel,  or  "Cell  of  Saint  Pega,"  at  this 
village.  It  measures  i  ft.  9  in.  high,  10  in.  square  at 
the  bottom,  tapering  to  8^  in.  at  the  top.  On  the  front 
and  back  is  a  representation  of  a  dragon,  with  his  tail 
forming  an  interlacing  pattern  ;  on  the  right  side  is 
conventional  foliage  ;  and  on  the  left  side  probably 
a  beast.  The  character  of  the  design  is  late,  and  is 
more  nearly  allied  to  Norman  than  Saxon  work,  and 
the  foliage  is  of  an  unusual  but  beautiful  form. 

The  buildinof  containiner  this  interestinor  relic  is 
known  as  the  Hermitage.  This  was  erected  about 
1270,  but  became  out  of  repair  and  desecrated,  and  so 
it  remained  for  many  years,  but  has  now  been  well 
restored. 


•96    STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTH AMPTOXSHIRE. 


PETERBOROUGH. 

In  the  city  of  Peterborough  there  are  two  stations, 
one  being  the  joint  station  of  the  London  and  North 
Western  and  Great  Eastern  Railways,  the  other  being 
the  Great  Northern   Railway. 


THE    CATHEDRAL. 

During  the  recent  restorations  of  the  Cathedral  many 
very  interesting  Saxon  stones  were  found,  including  the 
so-called  Hedda's  tomb.  These  are  evidently  all  relics 
of  the  first  Saxon  church  at  Peterborough.  They  have 
been  described  by  Mr.  Romilly  Allen  in  his  paper  on 
-"  Early  Christian  Sculpture  in  Northamptonshire."  ""^ 

Churchvard  Cross. 

Amongst  these  stones  is  one  which  probably  formed 
part  of  a  cross  shaft.  It  is  of  oolite,  and  was  found 
in  1884  under  the  south-west  pier  of  the  great  central 
tower.  It  is  i  ft.  7  in.  long  and  5^  in.  broad.  The 
interlaced  work  on  this  stone  is  of  uncommon  but 
beautiful  design,  consisting  of  six  inter- 
laced bands  forming  broken  plait-work 
— that  is,  work  in  which  spaces  are 
left  between  the  plaits  instead  of  the 
plaits  running  through  trom  end  to 
end.^''^ 

Another    fragment,     which    formed 
one  arm  of  a  cross,  is  here  reproduced. 
Probably  this  relic  was  from  the  church  erected  by 
Athelwold,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  in  963. 

I'"*  Associated  Architectural  Societies'  Reports,  Vol.  XIX.,  p.  421. 

'*"  Journal  of  the  British  Archavtogical  Association,  V'ol.  XIV.,  p.  180. 


PETERBOROUGH. 


PETERBOROUGH.  97 

Market  Cross. 

At  the  city  of  Peterborough  there  was  a  market 
cross,  which  is  frequently  alluded  to  in  the  old  town 
books.      In  16 1 4  there  was  received  for — 

"  Rents  for  stallage  at  the   Market  Cross  for   i 

whole  year 35-.  8^." 

Again  in  1649  : 

"  Rec''  under  the  market  cross  of  several  fellows 

for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  Peterborough        .     d,s.  6d" 

The  Rev.  W.  D.  Sweeting  thinks,  from  this  entry, 
that  these  small  rents  were  appropriated  to  the  poor. 
They  varied  each  year;  the  amount  received  in  1652 
"from  the  standers  under  the  cross  "  was  S^?^''^ 

Market  and  Fairs. 

Bridges  states  that  :  "  Here  is  a  weekly  market  on 
Saturday,  and  two  fairs  in  a  year,  each  lafting  three 
days,  one  beginning  on  the  eve  of  S.  Peter,  the  other 
on  St.  Matt/ieivs  eve."  ^°^  In  1800  fairs  were  held  on 
the  loth  July  and  the  2nd  October. 

The  market  was  afterwards  increased  to  Wednesday 
and  Saturday  in  each  week,  and  the  fairs  to  four  days  : 
the  Saint  Peter's  fair  on  the  second  Tuesday  and 
Wednesday  in  July,  and  the  Bridge  fair  on  the  first 
Wednesday  and  Thursday  in  October,  each  being 
proclaimed  at  noon  on   the  previous  day. 

Memorial  Cross. 

In  the  market  place  stands  a  handsome  stone  cross, 
erected  by  Mrs.  Gates  to  the  memory  of  her  late  husband. 

This  is  raised  on  three  steps.  The  lower  portion  is 
an    irregular    octagon,    with    four    basins    and    drinking- 

'"*  Sweeting's  Paris/i  Churclics  in  aiii/  (I/ok/kI  J'ehr/'oroitg/i,  i8()<S,  p.  26. 
'"^  Bridges'  Northamptonshire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  537. 

7 


98    STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

fountains  ;  above  these  there  is  an  arcade  of  pointed 
arches,  in  four  of  which  are  the  devices  hereinafter 
mentioned.  The  next  story  is  formed  by  eight  shafts 
at  the  corners  and  a  central  shaft.  Above  a  sHght 
parapet,  ornamented  by  finials  over  the  shafts,  rises  a 
plain  spire  surmounted  by  a  cross. 

In  a  panel  on  the  east  side  is  carved  the  legend  : 

"IN 

MEMORY    OF 

HENRY    PEARSON 

GATES, 

FIRST   MAYOR 

OF   THIS   CITY." 

On  the  south  side  is  the  shield  :  Per  pale  sa.,  and 
gn.,  three  lions  rampant  gtiardant  or,  for  Gates. 

On  the  west  side  is  the  shield  :  Per  pale  ;  dexter,  az., 
two  keys  in  saltire  betiveen  four  crose  crosslets  fitchde,  for 
See  of  Peterborough  ;  sinister ,  gti.,  two  swords  in 
saltire,  hilts  in  base,  between  four  crosses,  for  City  of 
Peterborough. 

On  the  north  is  the  shield  :  Gates,  impaling  ar.,  a 
chevron  sa.,   betujeen    three   inaunches  of  the   second  for 

M  ANSEL. 

Henry  Pearson  Gates  was  born  20th  October,  18 18, 
at  Peterborough.  He  became  Chapter  Clerk  of  Peter- 
borough Cathedral,  and  Registrar  of  the  Archdeaconries 
of  Northampton  and  Oakham.  He  was  secretary  to 
Bishops  Davys,  Jeune,  and  Magee ;  was  four  times 
elected  Mayor  of  Peterborough  ;  and  he  was  High 
Sheriff  for  the  counties  of  Cambridge  and  Huntingdon 
in    1883. 

Mr.    Gates   married    Miss    Mansel,   the    daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Henry  Longueville  Mansel,  of  Cosgrove. 

Mr.  Gates  died  at  his  residence,  the  Vineyard, 
Peterborough,  on  the  6th   May,    1893. 


PRESTON  CAPES. 


99 


PRESTON    CAPES. 

The  village  of  Preston  Capes  is  ^w^t  and  a  half  miles 
from  Daventry,  and  three  miles  from  Morton  Pinkeney 
station  on  the  East  and  West  Junction  Railway. 

CiiURCHVARu  Cross. 

To  the  south-east  of  the  south  door  of  this  church  is 
a  charming  little  cross,  clothed  with  ivy.  The  socket 
rests  on  the  ground,  and  is  octagonal,  with  a  slight 
circular  moulding  round  the  edge.  The  shaft  is  square 
at  the  bottom,  and  changes  to  an  octagon  by  plain 
broaches.      It  is  set  with  lead. 

Measurements. 


SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

ft.   in. 
O    lO 

ft.    in. 
I      2 

ft.    in. 
3     6 

ft.    in. 
o  io| 

RAUNDES. 

The  town  of  Raundes  is  four  and  a  half  miles  from 
Thrapston,  and  one  and  a  half  mile  from  Raundes 
station  on   the   Midland   Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

The  cross  in  the  churchyard  of  this  village  stands  to 
the  south-west  of  the  south  porch.  It  is  composed 
of  two  steps,  a  socket,  and  small  piece  of  shaft.  The 
steps  are  square.  The  lower  has  an  angular  weather- 
drip,  and  a  moulded  set-off  at  the  base.  The  second 
also  has  a  square  drip  and  an  angular  set-off,  the 
flat    surface    between    being    ornamented    with    a    band 


lOO   STONE    CROSSES   OE  NOR  THA  MP  TONS  HIRE. 


of  well-designed  quartrefoil  panels  enclosing  crosses  of 
different  shapes.  The  socket  is  square  below,  and  cut 
to  an  octagon  ;  it  has  bold  convex  stops  at  the  angles, 
and  the  upper  edge  is  bevelled.  The  shaft  is  square, 
with   bands   at  each   angle.     The   emblems   of  the  four 


KAUNDFb 

Evangelists  are  engraved  on  the  sides  of  the  shaft : 
on  the  north  side  the  ox  for  Saint  Luke,  on  the  east  the 
eagle  for  Saint  John,  on  the  south  the  winged  lion  for 
Saint  Mark,  and  on  the  west  the  unusual  symbol  of  a  bird 
with  a  human  face,  in  lieu  of  an  angel  or  man,  for 
Saint  Matthew.     This  cross  was  erected  about   1380.^*^ 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Basement    ... 
2nd  step 

ft.    in. 

1  9 

2  0 

ft.   in. 
7  10 
4     8 

ft.    in.         ft.    in. 

\  1}    ^  ^ 

ft.   in. 
2     4 

ft.   in. 
3    8 

ft.    in. 
I     3 

"*^  Churches  of  the  Archdeacotiry  of  Northampton,  1849,  PP-  53'  ^3-  ^''°'" 
which  this  drawing  of  the  cross  is  reproduced. 


RAVENSTHORP.  loi 

RAVENSTHORP. 

The  village  of  Ravensthorp  is  ten  miles  from  North- 
ampton, and  three  and  a  half  miles  from  Althorp  station 
on  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

The  churchyard  cross  here  stood  to  the  south-west 
of  the  south  porch.  It  consisted  of  four  steps,  an 
octagonal  socket,  and  small  piece  of  shaft.  This  shaft 
and  the  steps  were  destroyed  about  the  year  i860,  the 
socket  alone  being  preserved  in  the  garden  of  the 
Vicarage.  However,  when  the  church  was  restored, 
the  octagonal  stone  socket  was  trimmed,  the  upper  and 
lower  edges  bevelled,  completely  hollowed,  and  lined 
with  lead.  It  was  then  placed  in  the  church,  in  lieu  of 
the  old  circular  font.  It  is  i  ft.  3  in.  high,  2  ft.  6  in. 
across  ;  each  face  is  about  1 2  in.  wide  ;  and  being  a 
handsome  stone,  it  makes  a  good  font. 


ROCKINGHAM. 

The  village  of  Rockingham  is  nine  miles  from 
Kettering,  and  one  mile  froei  Rockingham  station 
on  the  London  and   North  Western  Railway. 

Market  Cross. 

Of  the  old  market  cross  at  Rockingham  only  the 
socket  now  remains.  It  is  a  large  and  handsome  stone, 
square  below  and  octagon  above,  with  plain  broaches. 
This  socket  has  been  placed  on  two  square  steps  with 
square  nosings.  On  the  side  there  is  a  large  semi- 
circular basin  into  which  a  stream  of  water  is  continually 
running.  A  tall  octagonal  shaft  has  been  placed  in  the 
old    socket  ;    a   little   over  half-way  up  it  is    worked    to 


102    STOXE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


v0W^''!^mb 


a    cylinder    and    encircled     with    a    gun-metal    band,  on 
which   in   raised  letters  is  the   following  legend  : 


"rebuilt,  1894, 
on  the  remains  of  the 

old  market-cross  of 
the  village  she  loved 
so  well,  in  memory  of 
laura  .  maria  .  watson 

WHO    DIED 
MARCH    2ISt,   1893." 

And  the  arms  :  Arg., 
on  a  chevron  engrailed 
az. ,  behveen  three  mart- 
lets sa.,  as  many  cres- 
cents or,  for  Watson  ; 
impaling,  az.,  a  pair 
of  wings,  conjoined  in 
litre  or,  on  a  canton 
crest,  A  griffin  s  head 
;    motto,   "  Mea  gloria 


ROCKINGHAM. 


arg.,  an  anchor  sa.,  Seymour  ; 
erased    arg.,    due  ally  gorged  or 

FIDES." 


Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height. 

Dia- 
meter. 

Height. 

Width. 

Basement 
2nd  step 
3rd  step 

ft.  in. 
I    10 
0     1\ 
0    II 

ft.  in. 
6     7 
5  10 
3    0 

ft.  in. 
Oil    \ 
0  lO.T  r 

0  3h) 

ft.  in. 
I    II 

ft.  in. 
2      5 

ft.  in. 
9      5 

ft.  in. 

I      4 

ft.  in. 

3    0 

ft.  in. 
2      0 

It  is  supposed  that  the  old  market  cross  here  was 
destroyed  by  the  Parliamentary  troopers,  when  they 
occupied  the  castle  and  devastated  the  village,  leaving 
only  the  socket  remaining. ^°'' 

George    Lewis   Watson,    Esq.    the   rebuilder   of  this 

'"■'  Wise's  Rockingham  Castle  and  iJie  Watsons,  1891,  p.  120. 


ROCKINGHAM.  103 

cross,  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Hon.  Richard 
Watson.  He  was  born  in  1841,  and  in  1870  he  served 
the  office  of  High  Sheriff  for  Northamptonshire.  In 
1867  Mr.  Watson  married  Laura  Maria,  the  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Sir  J.  H.  Culme-Seymour,  whose  death 
in  1893  he  never  ceased  to  regret.  Mr.  Watson  died 
31st  December,  1899,  at  his  London  residence  in 
Wimpole  Street. 

Market  and  Fair. 

The  right  of  holding  a  weekly  market  at  this  village 
was  granted  by  Henry  HL  to  Edward,  Earl  of  Cornwall, 
in  1 271.  This  market  was  held  on  the  Friday,  but 
in  13 1 5  it  was  changed  to  the  Saturday  in  each  week.^'^'^' 
In  1769  we  find  that  the  day  was  changed  to  the 
Thursday,  and  shortly  after  1800  the  market  was 
discontinued. 

A  large  fair  for  horses  and  cattle  is  still  held  on 
the  25th  September  every  year. 


ROTHERSTHORP. 

The  village  of  Rothersthorp  is  four  and  a  half  miles 
from  Northampton,  and  two  miles  from  Blisworth 
Junction  station  on  the  London  and  North  Western 
Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  church  is  the  head  of  a  cross,  which  is  in 
fair  condition.  It  has  four  arms  slightly  expanded  at 
the  ends,  and  united  by  a  circular  ring  which  surrounds 
the  whole.  On  the  front  the  lower  limb  is  carried 
downwards  below  the  ring,  and  there  is  in  relief  upon 
the  cross  the  figure  of  the  crucified  Saviour,  who  is 
represented    as    erect,    His    head    upright,   and   arms    at 

106  Wise's  Rockingham  Castle  and  the  Watsons,  1891,  p.  14. 


I04    STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


right  angles  with  His  body  ;  there  is  a  cloth  about  His 
loins,  and  His  feet  are  separated  and  fastened  by  two 
nails  after  the  earlier   Byzantine  type,   the  entire  figure 

"alive  and  erect — apparently  elate. "^"'^ 
The  whole  of  the  head  rises  from 

a  short  shaft,  at  the  bottom  of  which 

is    a    horizontal    band    of  ornamental 

foliage  of  the  Early  English  period  ; 

and    projecting    from    the    sides    are 

small  human  heads. 

The  height  of  the  stone    is   2    ft. 

9  in,,   and  the  width  at  the  top   i    ft. 

3  in.      The   figure    of  Christ   is    i    ft. 

4  in.  high. 
This  cross  was  found  in  the  village 

when    pulling    down    an    old    barn  in 
1869,   and   was   placed  in    the    church 
about  ten  years  ago.^"® 
In     the    churchyard     is     the 
base   of  a  cross,    consisting  of  a 
square     block      with     chamfered 
edges.      An    attempt    has    been 
made    to    take     away     the    small 
remaining    portion    of    the    shaft 
by  cutting  away  the  sides  of  the 
mortise-hole. 

It    is    possible,    but     not    probable,    that    this    base 
belonged  to  the  head  of  the  cross  now  in  the  church. 


KOTHERSTIIORP. 


<:\n.i-'^- 


ROTHERSTHORr. 


ROTHWELL. 

The  town  of  Rothwell  is  four  miles  from  Kettering, 
and  two  miles  from  Desborough  station  on  the  Midland 
Railway. 

'"'  Mrs.  Jameson's  History  of  Our  Lord,  1864,  Vol.  II.,  p.  142. 
'"''  Associated  Architectural  Societies'  Reports,  Vol.  XX.,  p.  89. 


ROTHWELL.  105 

Market  and  Fair. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  nineteenth  century  a 
weekly  market  was  held  here  on  Monday.  This  was 
afterwards  discontinued,  it  is  said,  at  the  time  of  the 
plague,  and  at  the  present  time  only  the  fair  on  Trinity 
Monday  and  the  four  following  days  is  held. 

There  is  no  record  of  a  market  cross  in  this  town. 
The  market-house,  however,  which  was  erected  about 
1575'  t>y  Sir  Thomas  Tretham,  is  frequently  called 
"  The  Cross,"  the  plan  of  the  building  being  cruciform. 

RUSHDEN. 

The  town  of  Rushden  is  one  mile  from  Higham 
Ferrers,  with  a  station  in  the  town  on  the  Midland 
Railway.  There  was  a  carving  representing  the 
Crucifixion,  which  probably  formed  the  head  of  a  cross. 
This  had  been  built  into  the  wall  of  a  cottage  in  the 
village  near  the  church.^"''  It  appears  to  have  been 
now  removed  or  destroyed. 

SPRATTON. 

The  village  of  Spratton  is  seven  miles  from  North- 
ampton, and  one  and  a  quarter  mile  from  Spratton 
station  on  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  churchyard,  to  the  south-east  of  the  southern 
door,  is  the  old  cross. 

Two  plain  steps,  of  large  stones,  some  of  which  are 
displaced,  form  the  base.  The  socket  is  deep,  and  rests 
on  a  thin  stone  of  the  same  size.  It  is  square,  and  at 
the  angles  are  convex  chamfers,  which  appear  to  have 
been  ornamented.  Round  the  upper  edge  is  an  incised 
line.      The  shaft  is  tall  and  slender,  and  is  formed  of  a 

'"'■*  Coles'  History  of  Higham  Ferrers^  p.  218. 


io6   STONE    CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

single  stone  ;  it  is  octagonal,  and  tapers  slightly.  Where 
it  joins  the  socket  it  is  square,  and  has  chamfers  at  the 
angles,  ending  in  pretty  little  trefoil  knops.      It  is  fixed 


C.A.r>\  a 


SPRATTON. 


in  the  socket  with  lead.  At  the  top  there  is  a  rounded 
tenon,  still  cased  with  lead,  which  no  doubt  originally 
fitted  the  cross-arms  or  head  surmounting  the  shaft. 


Me.asurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Width. 

Height. 

Each  face. 

Height. 

Square 
at  foot. 

Basement  ... 
2nd  step    ... 
3rd  step     ... 

ft.   in. 
O     6 
o     9 
o     4 

ft.    in. 
6     7 
3  lo 

2      7 

ft.    in. 

o     7- 
o      l] 

ft.    in. 
O     9 

ft.    in. 
2     5 

ft.    in. 
9    II 

ft.   in. 
O   II 

ST  ANION. 


107 


STANION. 

The  village  of  Stanion  is  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
Corby  station  on  the  Midland  Railway. 

Village  Cross. 
In   the   village  there   is   the   base  of  a  small   cross, 
with    a   portion    of  the    stem    still    remaining,   but    this 
is  quite  featureless  and  of  little  interest. 

STOKE  DOYLE. 

The  little  village  of  Stoke  Doyle  is  two  miles  from 
Oundle  town  and  rather  farther  from  Oundle  station 
on  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 
There  is  at  the  Rectory  the  base  of  a  cross  of  some- 
what  unusual   form.      This   is   2   ft.    i    in.   square   below, 
and    I    ft.    6    in.    higrh  ;    it 

O  '  J.   - 

changes  to  a  plain  octagon 
by  sloping  chamfers.  On 
the  chamfer  stops  there 
are  curious  shell-like  pro- 
jections, ornamented  on 
each  side  with  a  kind  ot 
curl  in  low  relief  One 
corner  has  been  cut  away 
to  form  a  step  for  mount- 
ing, the  stone  having  long 
been  used  as  a  mounting-block.  The  mortise-socket 
is  scjuare,  and  is  set  diagonally.  The  lower  part  of 
the  stem  of  the  cross,  set  in  lead,  and  broken  off  nearly 
level  with  the  surface  of  the  base,  still  remains.  The 
upper  edge  of  the  octagon  is  ornamented  with  a  plain 
circular  moulding. 

The  whole   stone  has  been   much   mutilated,   but    it 
is  well  worthy  of  preservation. 


c..'V.M."acr 


STOKE    DOYLE. 


108    STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


STOWE^NINE^CHURCHES. 

The  village  of  Stowe-Nine-Churches  is  six  miles 
from  Daventry,  and  two  miles  from  Weedon  Junction 
station  on  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

At  this  church  there  are  pieces  of  two  Saxon 
cross-shafts.  One  is  2  ft.  3  in.  high  ;  at  the  bottom  it 
is    I  ft.  2   in.  by  i  ft.  3   in.,  and  at  the  top   i   ft.  by  i  ft. 


STOWE-NINE-CHURCHES. 

I  in.  At  the  angles  there  is  cable  moulding ;  on  one 
face  are  two  pieces  of  interlaced  work,  the  upper  one  a 
plait  of  six  bands,  the  lower  a  double  band  forming 
figures  of  eight  and  interlaced  at  intervals  with  a  four- 
cornered  knot.  This  pattern  appears  to  be  quite  unique. 
Two  of  the  other  sides  are  also  ornamented. 

The  other  stone  is  1 1  in.  high,  i   ft.  5  in.  wide,  and 


^  TO  IV  E -NINE-  Cfl  UR  CHES. 


109 


8^  in.  thick.  On  one  face  it  is  sculptured  with  inter- 
laced work,  composed  of  spiral  knots  arranged  in  two 
vertical  rows,   those    on    the    right  being   right-handed, 


STOWE-NINE-CHURCHES. 


those  on  the  left  left-handed,  and  the  spiral  band  of 
each  knot  makes  three  turns  before  reaching  the  centre. 
Both    stones   are   illustrated  in    Mr.   J.    Romilly  Allen's 


paper. 


SYWELL. 


The  village  of  Sywell  is  six  miles  from  North- 
ampton. 

Village  Cross. 

Here  are  the  remains  of  an  ancient  cross,  now  on 
the  village  green.  This  was  probably  a  churchyard 
cross,  as  it  does  not  appear  that  a  market  was  ever 
held  at  this  village. 

Some  fifty  years  ago  this  cross  stood  at  the  south- 
east end  of  the  village  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  road 
leading  to  M ear's  Ashby. 

In  the  year  1864,  when  the  late  Lord  Overstone 
rebuilt  the  village  on  a  site  nearer  the  church,  this  cross 

""  Associated  Architectural  Societies  Reports^  Vol.  XIX.,  p.  421. 


no   STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

was  moved,  and  was  placed  on  the  village  green  to  the 
north-east  of  the  church. 

In  1S97  this  cross  was  once  again  moved  to  a 
position  on  the  green  due  east  of  the  church  and  entirely 
renovated. 

The  only  portions  of  the  old  cross  still   in  existence 


'^^^^^^z^. 


consist  of  a  massive  socket  and  a  small  piece  of  the 
shaft,  both  of  oolite  stone.  The  socket  is  a  plain  block, 
much  hollowed  on  the  upper  surface,  into  which  is 
fixed  by  lead  the  shaft,  of  which  only  three  feet  in 
length  now  remain  ;  this  is  square  below  and  worked  to 
an  octagon,  but  the  edges  are  so  much  worn  away  that 
it  appears  almost  circular. 

The  socket  has  been  placed  on  two  new  steps,   the 


5  YWELL. 


II I 


upper  surfaces  of  which  slope  in  a  somewhat  clumsy 
manner.  The  old  shaft  is  surmounted  by  a  heavy 
capital,  which  forms  the  base  of  the  new  cross.  This 
is  Ionian  in  design  and  is  ornamented  with  interlaced 
patterns.  On  the  boss  in  the  centre  of  the  west  side 
is  carved  the  date  "  1837  "  ;  and  on  the  east  side  the 
date  "  1897."  C)n  the  east  side  of  the  second  step  has 
been  inscribed  the  legend  : 

"Restored  in  Commemoration 

of  the  60th  year  of 
the  reign  of  queen  victoria." 

The  cost  of  this  renovation  was  ^19  os.  4^.,  among 
the  subscribers  being  His  Majesty  King  Edward,  who 
is  the  patron  of  the  living. 

Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

SHAFT. 

HEAD. 

Height. 

Each 
face 

Width. 

Height. 

Each 
face. 

Height, 
ft.  in. 

3    0 

Square 
at  foot. 

Height. 

Basement  ... 
2nd  step     ... 

ft.  in. 
0     9 
0    10 

ft.  in. 

5    o.i 
3  io| 

ft.  in. 

0  5f) 
o6fj 

ft.  in. 

I     4 

ft.  in. 
2      9 

ft.  in. 
0     8 

ft.    in. 
4     6 

THRAPSTON. 

The  town  of  Thrapston  has  stations  on  the  London 
and  North  Western  and  Midland  Railways. 

Bridge  Cross. 
Cole,  in  his  MS.,  states  that  :  **  Over  the  river  at 
Thrapston  is  a  stone  bridge  of  eight  arches,  leading 
from  Thrapston  to  I  slip,  repaired  severally  by  the  two 
places  to  the  middle  of  the  river,  where  a  hollow  stone 
toward  Denford  formerly  stood  out  as  a  mark  ;  but  has 
been  of  late  years  supplied  by  a  cast-iron  mask  properly 
inscribed." '" 

'"  Cole's  MS.  History  of  Thrapstotiy  circa  1850. 


112   STONE   CROSSES   OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

This  "hollow  stone"  was  probably  the  base  of  a 
bridge  cross  similar  to  that  on  the  bridge  at  Wansford. 

There  is  no  note  of  a  market  cross  ever  having  been 
erected  at  this  town. 

Market  and  Fairs. 

The  market  held  here  on  Tuesday  is  a  privilege  of 
remote  antiquity,  for  we  read  that  Baldwin  de  Veer,  a 
possessor  of  lands  here  in  the  seventh  year  of  King 
John  (1205-6),  gave  the  king  two  palfreys  for  the 
privilege  of  a  mercate  on  Tuesday  at  his  manor  of 
"  Trapestone." 

In  Bridges'  time  the  market  was  held  on  the 
Tuesday,  and  a  fair  was  held  on  the  25th  July  every 
year/'" 

In  1870  the  Thrapston  Market  Company  was  in- 
corporated under  the  authority  of  "  The  Thrapston 
Market  Act,  1870"  (33  &  34  Vict.  c.  138);  and  the 
company  was  empowered  to  hold  a  market  on  Tuesday 
in  every  week  and  a  fair  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May, 
the  5th  day  of  August,  and  the  first  Tuesday  after  the 
I  ith  October  every  year. 


TIFFIELD. 

The  village  of  Tiffield  is  two  miles  from  Towcester, 
and  three  miles  from  Blisworth  Junction  station  on  the 
London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

Built  into  the  south  wall  of  Tiffield  church  is  a 
prettily  designed  little  Early  English  cross.  On  a  flat 
cross  is  a  smaller  one,  with  a  trefoil  leaf  at  the  end  of 
each  arm.  The  lower  part  of  the  cross  has  been 
destroyed,  and  the  whole  is  under  a  little  pitched  roof 

"-  Bridges'  Northampionshire,  Vol.  II.,  p.  379. 


TOWCESTER.  ii 


TOWCESTER. 

The  market  town  of  Towcester  is  eight  miles  from 
Northampton,  with  a  station  on  the  Northampton  and 
Banbury  Junction  Railway. 

Market  and  Fairs. 

In  the  third  year  of  Edward  I.  (1275)  an  inquisition 
of  the  privilege  of  the  corporation  of  Northampton  was 
held,  and  it  was  presented  that  though  Towcester  was 
within  ten  miles  of  Northampton,  Sir  William  de 
Muncheni  had  a  market  in  "  Towcest."  ^^^ 

In  the  third  year  of  Edward  III.  (1329-30)  William 
de  Clinton,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  and  Juliana  his  wife, 
were  summoned  to  show  cause  why  they  claimed,  with 
other  privileges,  to  have  a  weekly  mercate  and  a  yearly 
fair  within  the  manor  of  Towcester,  and  they  made 
good  their  right  to  this  privilege. ^^^ 

A  weekly  market  is  held  here  now  on  the  Tuesday, 
and  every  alternate  week  there  is  a  sale  of  stock. 

The  fairs  here  are  more  ancient,  for  in  the  twelfth 
year  of  Edward  II.  [13 18-9]  Aymer  de  Valence,  Earl 
of  Pembroke,  obtained  a  licence  to  hold  a  yearly  fair 
here  beginning  on  the  eve  of  the  Annunciation  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  (25th  March)  and  ending  the  day  after. ^''' 

In  1544  Henry  VIII.  granted  to  the  men  of 
Towcester  two  yearly  fairs,  on  the  feast  of  Saint  Philip 
and  Saint  James  the  Apostles,  and  the  feast  of  Saint 
Luke  the  Evangelist. 

Charles  II.  in  1684  granted  to  Sir  William  Farmer, 
Bart.,  a  weekly  market  on  Tuesday,  and  three  yearly 
fairs   on  the  23rd  September,  Shrove  Tuesday,  and  the 

"■'  Baker's  Xoriltamptonshirc,  Vol.  II.,  p.  371. 
'"  Bridges'  !\'ortluwiplonshin\  Vol.  I.,  j).  273. 
"^  Ibid.,  p.  273.   ■ 


ii4    STOXIi    CROSSES    OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

22nd  March. ^"'  The  fairs  arc  now  nominally  held  on 
Shrove  Tuesday,  the  12th  May,  and  the  29th  October; 
but  they  are  only  slightly  attended. 

There  is  no  record  of  a  market  cross  at  this  town. 


UPTON. 

The  little  village  of  Upton  is  two  miles  from 
Northampton,  and  ecclesiastically  it  forms  part  of 
St.   Peter's  parish,    Northampton. 

CiiURcrivARD  Cross. 

This  cross  is  of  good  design,  and  was  no  doubt  a 
handsome  structure  at  one  time  ;  indeed,  it  is  still  most 
picturesque. 

The  steps  are  square  ;  the  lowest  is  large  and  low. 
The  second  step  is  smaller,  but  higher,  and  quite  plain. 


The  third  step  is  smaller  and  lower,  the  upper  edge 
being  bevelled  ;  the  socket  is  plain,  also  with  the  edge 
bevelled,  and  a  mortise-hole  in  the  centre,  10  in.  square 
and  8  in.  deep. 

The  stones  are  much  displaced,  owing  to  a  sapling 
growing  between  them,  and  they  are  covered  with  moss. 

'"'  Bilker's  Nurllnunptunshirc,  Vol.  11.,  p.  371. 


WANS  FORD. 


115 


Measurements. 


STEPS. 

SOCKET. 

Height. 

Each  face 

Width. 

Heijiht. 

Kach  face. 

Basement 

2nd  step 

3rd  step 

ft.    in. 

0     3 
0     9 
0     6 

ft.    in. 
6     0 
4    II 

3     8 

ft.    in 
0     6] 
0     8 
0     8} 

ft.    i;i. 
I      0 

ft.    in. 
2    II 

WANSFORD. 

The  village  of  "  Wans  ford  in  England"  is  eight 
miles  from  Peterborough,  and  one  and  a  half  mile  from 
Wansford  station  on  the  London  and  North  Western 
Railway. 

The  river  Nene,  forminor  the  boundarv  between 
the  counties  of  Northampton  and  Huntingdon,  is  here 
crossed  by  a  very  fine  old  bridge  which  was  built  in 
the  fourteenth  century;  it  was  repaired  in  1674,  and 
was  widened  and  partially  rebuilt  in    1 796. 


Bridge  Cross. 

On    the    eastern    side    of   this    beautiful  bridge,    in 
the    first  recess   on    the 
Northamptonshire   side, 
there    is    the    socket   of 
an   old   cross. 

This  is  now  im- 
bedded, so  that  the 
upper  surface  is  almost 
level  with  the  roadway. 
It  is  not  quite  rectan- 
gular in  plan,  the  sides 
are  2  ft.  4  in,  ;  the 
upper  edge  is  bevelled,  and  the;  mortisc-holc  is  circular, 
I    ft.    2   in.   in  diameter  and   7   in.   deep. 


WAN.SKORI). 


ii6    STONE    CROSSES    OF  NORTH AJ\IPTOXSH IRE. 

This  stone  is  probably  in  its  original  position. 
Bridges,   speaking  of  the  bridge,   says  : 

"  About  the  middle,  where  was  formerly  a  crofs 
is  now  a  dial,  which  divides  the  counties."  ^^^ 


WARMINGTON. 

The  villaofe  of  WarminQ^ton  is  two  and  a  half  miles 
froni  Oundle  station  on  the  London  and  North  Western 
Railway. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  the  north-east  part  of  the  churchyard  at 
VVarmington  there  is  the  socket  of  an  ancient  cross. 
This  is  2  ft.  square  below,  and  i  ft.  high,  and  changes 
to  an  octagon  by  bold  convex  stops.  The  mortise- 
hole  is  set  square  in  the  stone.  This  socket  is  very 
similar  to  that  at  Stoke  Doyle,  and  was  probably  made 
by  the  same  mason. 


WELDON,    GREAT. 

The  village  of  Great  Weldon  is  eight  and  a  half 
miles  from  Kettering  and  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
Corby  station  on  the  Midland   Railway. 

Market  and  Fairs. 

In  1800  a  market  was  held  here  weekly  on 
Wednesday,  and  fiirs  on  the  19th  February,  the  21st 
May,  the  20th  August,  and  the  :7th  September.  The 
only  fair  now  held  is  on  the  14th  July. 

It  appears  that  there  was  a  cross  of  some  kind  at 
this  village,  for  we  find  that  Thomas  Gardener  in  1526 
by  his  will  left  "  to  the  .    .   .   att  the  Crosse  iiij'^" 

"^  Bridges"  Northamptonsliirc,  Vol.  H.,  p.  G06. 


[  VEL  L  INGE  OR  0  UGH.  1 1 7 

WELLINGBOROUGH. 

The  large  and  increasing  town  of  Wellingborough 
is  ten  miles  from  Northampton.  There  are  two  stations, 
each  about  a  mile  from  the  town,  on  the  London  and 
North  Western  and   Midland   Railways. 

Churchyard  Cross. 

In  this  parish  church  is  the  socket  of  a  medium- 
sized  cross.  This  is  of  oolite,  2  ft.  4  in.  square,  and 
is  worked  to  an  octagon  by  plain  broaches  ;  it  is  i  ft. 
7  in.  high,  and  the  centre  has  been  hollowed  and  lined 
with  lead.  This  socket  has  been  scraped  or  recut, 
mounted  on  a  large  square  stone,  and  now  does  duty 
for  the  font. 

When  Cole  wrote  his  History  of  the  town  this 
stone  lay  in  the  garden  of  the  Vicarage,  and  it  was 
not  until  about  thirty  years  ago  that  the  V^icar,  the 
Rev.  R.  P.  Lightfoot,  now  Archdeacon  of  Oakham, 
placed  it  in  the  church. 

Mr.  John  Askham,  the  shoemaker-poet,  who  wrote 
the  following  sonnets  to  commemorate  this  event,  did 
not  seem  to  know  that  this  stone  was  the  socket  of 
an  old  cross. 

"  The   Old   Font. 
"Old  relic  of  the  ages  long  gone  by. 
Coeval  witJi  this  ancient  sacred  fane, 
Thou  standest  in  the  holy  place  again, 
Massive  and  time-defying ;  years  may  fly, 
Succeeding  generations  live  and  die, 
The  rolling  centuries  may  wax  and  wane  ; 
Time  gnaweth  at  thy  rugged  sides  in  vain, 
Its  silent,  ceaseless  march  thou  dost  def)'. 
Hoary,  yet  young ;  old,  yet  renewed  and  fair ; 
Marred  with  neglect,  a  latent  beauty  springs 
To  life  again,  as  kindly  genius  brings 
Back  thy  old  lineaments  with  loving  care. 
Thou  ancient  relic  !    at  the  sight  of  thee 
Strange,  sweet,  sad  thoughts  crowd  on  my  memory. 


ii8    STONE   CROSSES    OF  XORT  HAMPTONS  HI  RE. 

"The   Same. 

"Could  I  but  give  thee  speech,  I'd  lend  an  ear, 
And  thou  should'st  whisper  of  the  past  to  mc  ; 
Tell  me  this  hoary  temple's  history, 
Since  first  thy  sturdy  foot  was  planted  here  ; 
Ere  the  first  whining  babe,  with  many  a  tear 
And  loud  protesting  cry  was  laved  in  thee, 
And  the  most  holy  sign  of  Calvary 
Shone,  on  its  baby  forehead,  crystal  clear. 
Parents  and  children  like  a  dream  are  gone  ; 
Sponsors  that  registered  baptismal  vows. 
And  priests  whose  hands  were  laid  on  sinless  brows, 
Their  history  buried  in  oblivion. 
Here  yet  shall  babes  be  brought,  and  as  of  old 
Baptised  into  God's  family  and  fold."  ^'* 

Market  Cross. 

The  old  market  cross  probably  stood  in  front  of 
the  Hind  liotel.  It  is  mentioned  in  the  town  account 
book,  where  the  following  entry  appears  for  the 
year   1638  : 

"  Laid  out  to  make  a  well   and  pump     j£    s.    d. 
at  the  Market  Cross.       .         .         .62     7."  ^^^ 

The  last  market  cross  at  Wellingborough  also  stood 
near  the  late  pump,   in  front  of  the   Hind   Hotel. 

Its  base  consisted  of  a  flight  of  steps,  surmounted 
by  a  beehive-shaped  rotunda,  which  served  the  purposes 
of  a  prison  within  ;  and  upon  the  centre  was  erected 
an  octangular  fluted  shaft,  with  a  vane  and  points. 
When  this  cross  was  destroyed  the  vane  was  placed 
on  a  coach-house  belongfincr  to   Mr.   Georo^e   Burnham. 

This  cross  was  built  at  the  expense  of  Charles 
Sheppard,  Esq.,  in  the  year  1719,  and  it  was  taken 
down  in  the  year   1798. 

^'''^  Poems  and  Sonnets,  \>y  ]o\\\\  t^-i\i\iVim,  1875.     Keprintcd  by  permission 
of  Mr.  John  Taylor. 

"'  Cole's  History  0/  Wellingborough,  1837. 


WELL  INGB  OR  O  UGH.  1 1 9 

During  the  Commonwealth,  as  appears  by  the  Parish 
Register,  the  banns  of  marriage  were  pubHshed  on 
market  days.  This  was  done  on  three  separate  days 
before  the  marriage,  sometimes  at  the  market  cross, 
and  sometimes  at  the  church.  At  this  period  it  was 
the  custom  for  persons  who  were  about  to  enter  the 
holy  estate  of  matrimony  to  come  before  a  justice,  in 
whose  presence  the  marriage  was  solemnised.  Mr. 
Maunsell,  of  Thorp  Malsor,  Mr.  Pentelow,  of  Whilby, 
and  the  Mayor  of  Higham  Ferrers  for  the  time  being, 
were  some  of  the  magistrates  before  whom  marriages 
took  place  in  this  district.^^° 

Market  and  Fairs. 

The  Abbey  of  Crowland  possessed  property  in  this 
town,  and  as  early  as  the  second  year  of  John  (i  200-1) 
the  Abbot  obtained  the  privilege  of  holding  a  market 
here  on  Wednesday.  From  that  time  to  the  present 
time  a  weekly  market  has  been  held  on  this  day. 
Fairs  are  held  on  Wednesday  in  Easter  week, 
Wednesday  in  Whitsun  week,  and  the  29th  October, 
being  the  festival  of  Saint  Luke.^"^ 

WEST  HADDON. 

The  village  of  West  H addon  is  thirteen  miles  from 
Northampton,  and  three  and  a  half  miles  from  Welton 
station  on  the  London  and  North  Western  Railway. 

Fair. 

In  1800  a  fair  was  yearly  held  here  on  the  2nd  May. 
Fair  now  held  last  Friday  in  September. 

There  is  no  record  of  a  market  cross  having  existed 
at  this  village. 

'-"  CoXca  Il/s/oiy  of  lVcil/ji_ii/io/oit!j;/i,  1837,  |).  243. 
'-'  Viudgcs,'  Nort/uwip/ons/i/rc,  Vol.  II.,  ]>.  149. 


i20   STONE    CROSSES    OE  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 


WOODFORD   HALSE. 

The  village  of  Woodford  Halse,  or  Woodford-cuni- 
INIcmbris,  is  nine  miles  from  Daventry,  with  a  station  in 
the  village  on  the  Great  Central  Railway. 

CiiuRCHVARD  Cross. 

In  the  walls  of  this  churchyard  there  is  stated  to 
have  been  the  remains  of  a  cross/"  but  the  writer 
has  failed  to  discover  them,  although  he  has  searched 
diligently  through  the  churchyard. 


YARDLEY  HASTINGS. 

The  village  of  Yardley  Hastings  is  eight  miles  fi^om 
Northampton,  and  three  and  a  half  miles  from  Castle 
Ashby  station  on  the  London  and  North  Western 
Railway. 

Fair. 

A  fair  was  held  here  yearly  on  Whit  Tuesday  about 
1800,  but  has  since  almost  died  out. 

There  was  no  market  cross  at  this  village. 

'--  V>x\Ag&€  Nortliaiiipioiisliiic,  Vol.  I.,  p.  132. 


INDEX. 


Abingdon,  A.  of,  lo. 
Akers-Douglas,  Right  Hon.  A.,  14. 
Allen,  J.  R.,  52,  96,  109. 
Alwalton,  38. 
Apethorp,  14. 
Ashby,  Meat's,  78. 
Askham,  J.,  117. 
Aston-le- Walls,  41. 
Aynho,  15. 

Badby,  16. 

Bainlon,  17. 

Bakewell,  84. 

Barnack,  18,  38. 

Barton,  Earl's,  54. 

Bello,  John  de,  10. 

Blisvvorth,  20. 

Blomfield,  Sir  A.,  7. 

Blore,  9. 

Bocase  Stone,  30. 

Boddington,  Upper,  21. 

Bonney,  Archdeacon,  56,  72. 

Boughton,  22. 

„  Green,  23. 

Bouverie,  14. 
Bozeat,  24. 
Brackley,  24. 
Brampton,  Church,  26. 
Braunston,  26. 
Braybroc,  H.  de,  40,  44. 
Brigstock,  27. 
Brington,  (Ircal,  30. 
Brixworth,  32. 
Bromswold,  Newton,  85. 
Buccleuch  and  Queensberry,  Duke 
of,  7. 


Burnham,  G.,  1 18. 
Burrows,  Prof.  M.,  30. 
Buttanshaw,  F.,  46. 

,,  Rev.  F.,  46. 

Byfield,  34. 

Cape  Colony,  47. 
Capes,  Preston,  99. 
Cartwright,  R.,  16 
Castle  Ashby,  54,  57,  120. 
Castle,  W.,  93. 
Castor,  35. 

Cell  of  Saint  Pega,  95. 
Charing,  3. 
Charles  I.,  King,  82. 
Chew  Magna,  41. 
Chipping  ^Varden,  39. 
Church  Brampton,  26. 
Clare,  J.,  61. 
Clavering,  J.  de,  16. 
Clinton,  W.  de,  1 13. 
Cold  Higham,  63. 
Coles,  J.,  67,  III,  117. 
Cogenhoe,  42. 
Corby,  44,  107. 
Cornwall,  Earl  of,  103. 
Cotterstock,  45. 
Cottingham,  44. 
Crowland,  Abbey  of,  119. 
Crowthorp  Bridge,  92. 
Culme-Seymour,  Miss,  103. 
Culworth,  48. 

Dallington,  50. 
Daventry,  50. 
Deeping  Gate,  77. 


122 


INDEX. 


Desborough,  51. 
Devonshire,  Duke  of,  23. 
Doyle,  Stoke,  107. 
Dryden,  Sir  H.,  55,  80. 
Dunstable,  3. 

Earl's  Barton,  54. 
Edward  I.,  King,  i. 

„       VII.,  King,  III. 
Edwards,  Rev.  B.,  70. 
Eleanor,  Queen,  i. 
Elton,  56. 
Ermine  Street,  37. 
Exeter,  Lord,  18. 
Eydon,  54. 

Farmer,  Sir  W.,  113. 
Fitzgerald,  J.  and  M.  F.,  82. 
FitzSimon,  S.,  34. 
FitzWalter,  R.,  50. 
Fotheringhay,  56. 

Gardener,  T.,  116. 
Gates,  H.  P.,  98. 
Geddington,  4,  i,  3,  85. 

,,  Chase,  6. 

Gosforth,  ^t'S- 
Gough,  45. 
Grantham,  2. 
Green,  Sir  H.,  23. 
Grendon,  56,  12. 
Gunwade  Ferry,  38. 

Haddon,  West,  119. 
Halse,  Woodford,  120. 
Harby,  2. 
Hardingston,  8. 
Harringworth,  57. 
Hartshorne,  Rev.  C.  H.,  9. 
Hastings,  Yardley,  120. 
Hedda,  96. 
Helpston,  59. 
Hermitage  Chapel,  95. 
Higham,  Cold,  63. 

,,  Ferrers,  64,  85,  119. 

Hind  Hotel,  it 8. 
Hochyn,  R.,  59. 
Holand,  R.  de,  25. 
Hone,  W.,  74. 
Huntingdon,  Earl  of,  113. 


lona,  84. 

Ireland,  William  of,  10. 
Irthlingborough,  69. 
Irvine,  J.  T.,  19. 

Kelmarsh,  81. 
Kettering,  71. 
King's  Cliff,  72. 
Kingsthorp,  74. 
Kyneburga,  Saint,  35. 

Latimer,  T.  de,  41. 
Law,  E.,  13. 
Lee,  89. 
Leet,  J.,  45- 
Leland,  24. 
Lichborough,  74. 
Lightfoot,  Rev.  R.  P.,  117 
Lincoln,  2,  88. 

,,        Bishop  of,  40. 
"  Little  John,"  38. 
Longthorp,  75. 
Lyn,  J.,  56. 

Manley,  L.,  89. 
Mansel,  Miss,  98. 
Marham,  76. 
Markham,  C,  12. 
INIaunsell,  119. 
Maxey,  77. 
Mear's  Ashby,  78. 
Melville,  Viscount,  47. 
Milton,  37. 
Monckton,  E.  P.,  14. 
Moor,  G.,  77. 
Morton  Pinkeney,  79. 
Moulton,  79. 
Muncheni,  Sir  W.  de,  113. 

Naseby,  81. 
Nassington,  83,  73. 
Neal,  Rev.  J.  M.,  7. 
Nene,  115. 

Newton  Bromswold,  85. 
Newton-in-the-Willows,  85, 
Northampton,  8,  86,  3. 

,,  ^[useuni,  86. 

Northborough,  63. 
Norwich,  88. 

Oundle,  92,  116. 
Overstone,  Lord,  109. 


/MDEX. 


125 


Peakirk,  95. 

Pembroke,  Earl  of,  113. 
Peada,  King,  35. 
Pentelow,  119. 
Perers,  A.,  49. 
Peterl)orough,  96,  45. 

,,  Abbot  of,  71. 

Abbey  of,  45,  47. 
Preston  Capes,  99. 

Raundes,  99. 
Ravensthorp,  101. 
Richmond,  Earl  of,  56. 
Right,  Thomas,  41. 
"  Robin  Hood,"  38. 
Rockingham,  101. 

„  Lord,  72. 

"  Rode  of  the  Wall,"  88. 
Rothersthorp,  103. 
Rothwell,  104. 
Rushden,  105. 

Saint  Albans,  3. 

,,    Edmunds,  38. 

Bury,  38,  88. 

„    Osyth's  Lane,  93. 

,,    Peter,  86. 
Scott,  Sir  G.,  86. 
Sepulchre,  The  Holy,  87. 
Sheppard,  C,  1 18. 
Sleuch,  Rev.  W.,  41. 
Spratton,  105. 
Stamford,  3 
Stanion,  107. 
Stoke  Doyle,  107,  116. 
Stony  Stratford,  3. 
Stowe-Nine-Churches,  108. 
Sweeting,  Rev.  W.  U.,  60,  78,  97. 
Sutton,  37. 
Sykes,  Mr.,  38. 


Sywell,  109. 

Tansor,  73. 
Thrapston,  111. 
Tiffield,  112. 
Towcester,  113. 
Townsend,  D.,  6. 
Trafford,  R.,  49. 
Tresham,  Sir  T.,  105. 
Turnivell,  G.  de,  41. 
Turner,  M.,  62. 

Upton,  114. 

Veer,  B.  de,  112. 
Victoria,  Queen,  13. 

Wake  knot,  84. 
Waltham,  1,3. 
Wansford,  115,  112. 
Warden,  Chipping,  39, 
Warmington,  116. 
Watson,  G.  L.,  102. 

„         Hon.  R.,  103. 
Weedon,  108. 
Weldon,  Great,  116. 
Weiford,  81. 
Wellingborough,  117. 
Welton,  119. 
West  Cheap,  3. 
West  Haddon,  119. 
Westminster,  2. 
White  Friars'  Cross,  60. 
Wilde,  G.  J.  de,  45- 
Winchester,  Bishop  of,  96. 
Woburn,  3. 
Woodford  Halse,  120. 
Yardley  Hastings,  120. 

Zouche,  Sir  W.  la,  58. 


Printed  by  Hazell,  Watson,  &  Viney,  Ld.,  London  and  Aylesbury'' 


D     000  013  953     5