Replica Cross

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"R" is for "Replica Cross" and today's photo shows a replica of Ashton's historic market cross.

The replica stands a few yards away from the spot where Ashton's market cross stood for hundreds of years, near the junction of Old Street and the appropriately-named Old Cross Street.

Of the various market crosses which have stood here, only one still remains, and was seen here three weeks ago at its present location in Stamford Park.

The replica was erected in this spot six months ago. I don't know where it stood before that! A plaque says that it is a replica of the cross erected in 1723, which now stands in Stamford Park. Yet, as we saw in the photo of the old cross, it bears carved lettering saying it was erected in 1798! It is possible that the plaque on the replica refers mistakenly to the date of one of the earlier crosses. Another explanation could be that the 1723 cross was moved in 1798, with the lettering on it referring to the date of its re-erection. Are there any historians reading who know more about these crosses, who can help solve this mystery?

Whether or not this is a replica of the cross in Stamford Park, or of an earlier one, it is much plainer and less attractive than that cross, so not really that convincing as a replica!

See Birds Eye View of this location. See Google Street View of this location before the replica was sited here.

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