Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
CHURCHGATE MARKET CROSS Photograph
Region ID | MR | |
Work ID | 57 | |
Manual Reference | MR/BOL12 | |
Title | CHURCHGATE MARKET CROSS | |
Architect | Bradshaw and Gass | |
Date of design | 1909 | |
Year of unveiling | 1909 | |
Unveiling details | August 1909 | |
Road | Churchgate | |
Precise Location | Traffic island, junction of Churchgate, Deansgate, Bradshawgate and Bank Street. | |
A to Z Ref | p.145 F7 | |
OS Ref | SD718903 | |
Postcode | ||
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | Don't know | |
Duty of Care | Bolton MBC | |
Commissioned by | Bolton Town Council | |
Notes | ||
Market cross. Square shaft on square pedestal both on circular stepped base. Shaft surmounted by gilt bronze cross. Bronze plaques on each face of pedestal commemorate significant dates in Bolton's history. | ||
Scholes' History of Bolton dates the first Churchgate cross to 1482. According to Taylor, this structure was probably replaced by an Elizabethan or Jacobean cross which survived until 1776 when it was removed as an obstruction to the markets.(1) John Wesley preached from this cross in 1748. The current structure was presented to the town by Liberal MP George Harwood in 1909 and was welcomed in a town which was "none too full of monuments and statues", and "somewhat lacking in these interesting memorials of the town."(2) It has four plaques which record significant events in the town's history. | ||
circa | ||
raw year | 1909 | |
Condition | Good | |
At risk | Not at risk | |
Inscriptions | THIS CROSS, SIMILAR TO THE ONE WHICH STOOD ON THIS SPOT FROM 1486 TO 1786, WAS PRESENTED TO HIS NATIVE TOWN BY GEORGE HARWOOD FOR SOME TIME MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR BOLTON. 1909. Plaque on xx side 1253. AD. BOLTON A FREE BOROUGH BY CHARTER. 1256. CHARTER FOR MARKET BY HENRY III TO BODELTON. 1337. FLEMISH CLOTHIERS SETTLED. 1513. “LUSTY LADS FROM BOLTON-I’-TH’ MOORS.” (BALLAD OF BATTLE OF FLODDEN FIELD.) 1540. “BOLTON UPON MOOR STANDETH MOSTLY BY COTTONS AND COARSE YARNS.” (LELAND.) 1623. LECTURESHIP FOUNDED FOR SERMONS AT CROSS. 1631. POPULATION 500. 1641. GRAMMAR SCHOOL FOUNDED. Plaque on xx side 1643-4. DURING THE CIVIL WAR BOLTON BESIEGED THRICE AND TAKEN ONCE WITH MUCH SLAUGHTER. 1651. JAMES, SEVENTH EARL OF DERBY, BEHEADED NEAR THIS SPOT 1661. “BOWLTON HATH A MARKET ON MONDAYS WHICH IS VERY GOOD FOR CLOTHING AND PROVISIONS AND IS A PLACE OF GREAT TRADE FOR FUSTIANS.” (BLOME’S BRITANNIA.”) 1753. CROMPTON, INVENTOR OF THE SPINNING MULE, THE FOUNDATION OF MODERN COTTON INDUSTRY, BORN IN BOLTON. 1760. ARKWRIGHT, FOUNDER OF THE COTTON FACTORY SYSTEM, KEPT A BARBER’S SHOP IN BOLTON. 1763. COTTON QUILTINGS & MUSLINS FIRST MADE INBOLTON. 1791. BOLTON CANAL OPENED. 1828. FIRST RAILWAY TO BOLTON OPENED 1832. FIRST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. POPULATION 41, 195 1838. CHARTER OF INCORPORATION 1842. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY ABOUT EXTREME DISTRESS IN TOWN. 1852. ADOPTION OF FREE LIBRARIES ACT. 1861. POPULATION 70, 396. 1872. FIRST EXTENSION OF BOLTON. 1877. FURTHER EXTENSION. POPULATION 105, 214. 1898. BOLTON AGAIN EXTENDED. 1901. POPULATION: 68, 215. BRADSHAW AND GASS, F.R.I.B.A., ARCHITECTS | |
Signatures | ||
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Base | Granite | 304cm wide approx |
Shaft | Granite | 609cm high approx |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character
Detail | Comment |
|---|---|
No damage | |
Structural Condition
Structural Condition | Comment |
|---|---|
None | |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
None | |
