This is the third in a series of events to highlight some of the market crosses that can be found within Derbyshire, with this one taking us west to the town of Chapel-en-le-Frith in the High Peak.
Market Crosses date from as early as the 7th Century & examples can still be found in over 200 towns & villages within Britain. They were used to simply denote a place where a market or fair would be held. But this required a charter to have been granted, normally by a monarch, bishop or baron. Originally simple structures often made from wood, these developed into a variety of designs including stone obelisks or spires as well as intricately carved crosses. Sometimes large & elaborate covered structures were built. Unfortunately, many have not survived & some remain only partially intact. In several places the remains of the market cross can be found in the local churchyard.
Chapel-en-le-Frith market cross is a Scheduled Ancient Monument located on the south side of the market place & dates from the either late medieval or early post-medieval period. Kelly's Directory of 1904 refers to the cross being dated 1643. It is constructed of local gritstone & comprises of a stepped base or calvary of four steps with a maximum diameter of 2.5m. This rises to a roughly octagonal socle or socket stone surmounted by a tapering octagonal shaft approximately 2m high. This shaft is in four sections mortared together, which suggests that it has been broken & restored. At the top of the shaft is a Latin-style cross head which appears to have formerly had an additional feature projecting from the top, although it is unclear what it may have been. The head is also mortared in place. The cross is plain except for roll-mouldings on the ends of the cross arms & on the east & west faces of the cross head. In addition, the socle has sloping chamfered corners so that the base is square rather than octagonal. It became a Grade II Listed building in 1984.
This short event will give us an opportunity to meet up safely outside for some geochat & to swap trackables in hopefully peaceful & beautiful surroundings. I have provided waypoints for free parking in Thornbrook Road or Miry Meadow car parks or you can use a bus to reach Chapel-en-le-Frith. There is a good range of caches in the area, if you haven't found them already. There may even be a new cache published for the occasion...