Monument record 1689/4/1 - Malpas Cross at town centre junction of Church St & Oldhall St

Malpas Cross, the Cross. Base medieval, cross 1873, of red sandstone. The octagonal base, on sloping ground, has seven steps to High Street and five & four on its sides to Church Street. Octagonal monument, on two stone steps in C14 style, has a gabled niche to each side and a crocketed spire surmounted by a cross. Stiff-leaf ornament; cusped niche arches, mouchettes and quatrefoils. Inscribed in memory of the Revd Augustus Thurlow, Rector of Malpas, who died in 1873. Full architectural description (1). The remains of a town cross were removed from the centre of Malpas in the late C19 and were allegedly taken to Cholmondeley, but have not been traced. The replacement 'Queen Eleanor style' cross is modern (2). Late medieval stepped plinth for a cross surmounted by a 19th century Gothic spire rerected as a memorial to a former vicar of the parish. The base is an octagonal plinth formed from sandstone blocks in seven steps. These gradually dimished on the upper western side so that only four steps are visible above the road surface. The cobbles of an earlier street surface are visible on the west side for 0.5m from the cross base. Above the medieval plinth is a sandstone cross base in two octagonal steps. A sandstone octagonal pillar with a spire has been erected above. The whole structure is about 8m high from the street on the east side. The pillar is inscribed to Rev Charles Thurlow dated to 1873 (4).

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /2/54 (Report). SCH1934.

<2> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Kenyon W T 1890 3/165 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ44NE3 (Index). SCH2487.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), /25710 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), /25710 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.