DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6910#0112
74
architectural antiquities.
The White-Friar's Cross, which is situated by the side of the road, about
one mile west of Hereford, consists of seven steps, and an hexagonal shaft, mea-
suring, together, about fifteen feet in height. Each face has a shield attached to it,
with a lion rampant in relief, and round the whole is an embattled turret. It was
formerly much higher. Among the different traditionary and legendary stories
relating to the origin of this Cross, the following appears to me the most probable
one, and therefore only deserving to be recorded. " In the year 1347, an infectious
disorder ravaged the whole county of Hereford, and, as usual, displayed the greatest
malignity in the places most numerously inhabited. This created a necessity of
removing the markets from Hereford, and the spot of waste ground on which the
cross now stands was applied to that purpose. In memory of this event, Dr. Lewis
Charleton (who was consecrated Bishop of Hereford a few years afterwards) caused
this Cross to be erected. The lion rampart was the armorial bearing of this prelate,
and is repeated on his monument in the cathedral, with a similarity which so strictly
pervades the whole architecture of the tomb and the cross, as to afford the strongest
presumption that this was the real origin of the cross described."*
The Cross at Coventry, Warwickshire, was perhaps the most elegant and
splendid fabric of this kind in England. It appears to have been built in consequence
of a bequestf made by Sir William Hollies, Knight, son to Thomas Hollies, of
Stoke, near this city, and sometime Lord Mayor of London. It was raised on the
site of a more ancient cross, and was commenced in 1541, and finished in three
years. The Mayor laid the first stone, and, in order to guard it from defacement,
the following act of the town leet was agreed to, and recorded in the book of the
corporation.
" Wheras the inhabitaunts of the Cros-chepynge, in tymes paste, have not onelie
comonlye used to laye donge and other filth nighe unto the crosse, there to the
great incomoditie of the mket place, and to the great daunger of infection of the
plage, but also have used comonlye to swepe the pavyments there, and thereby
a Duncumb's " Collections towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford," 4to. 1804. p. 399-
+ The will is dated 25th December, 33d Henry viii. and contains the following clause. " i give and bequeath
unto the mayor and aldermen of the city of Coventre, and to the commons of the same, cc£. sterling, to the intent
and purpose hereafter ensuing, that is to say, to make a new cross with in the said city : whereof delivered in hand
to Mr. Warren, draper of the said city, the 24th day of August last xx£. in ready money; and also more paid to
Mr. Over, by the hands of Salt, my Bailie, of Yorall, 70£. in ready money; and so resteth unpaid cx£. sterling,
which i will and desire my executors see to be delivered and paid unto the said mayor and aldermen of Coventre
aforesaid, to the use and intent aforesaid, within one year after my decease," &c.
architectural antiquities.
The White-Friar's Cross, which is situated by the side of the road, about
one mile west of Hereford, consists of seven steps, and an hexagonal shaft, mea-
suring, together, about fifteen feet in height. Each face has a shield attached to it,
with a lion rampant in relief, and round the whole is an embattled turret. It was
formerly much higher. Among the different traditionary and legendary stories
relating to the origin of this Cross, the following appears to me the most probable
one, and therefore only deserving to be recorded. " In the year 1347, an infectious
disorder ravaged the whole county of Hereford, and, as usual, displayed the greatest
malignity in the places most numerously inhabited. This created a necessity of
removing the markets from Hereford, and the spot of waste ground on which the
cross now stands was applied to that purpose. In memory of this event, Dr. Lewis
Charleton (who was consecrated Bishop of Hereford a few years afterwards) caused
this Cross to be erected. The lion rampart was the armorial bearing of this prelate,
and is repeated on his monument in the cathedral, with a similarity which so strictly
pervades the whole architecture of the tomb and the cross, as to afford the strongest
presumption that this was the real origin of the cross described."*
The Cross at Coventry, Warwickshire, was perhaps the most elegant and
splendid fabric of this kind in England. It appears to have been built in consequence
of a bequestf made by Sir William Hollies, Knight, son to Thomas Hollies, of
Stoke, near this city, and sometime Lord Mayor of London. It was raised on the
site of a more ancient cross, and was commenced in 1541, and finished in three
years. The Mayor laid the first stone, and, in order to guard it from defacement,
the following act of the town leet was agreed to, and recorded in the book of the
corporation.
" Wheras the inhabitaunts of the Cros-chepynge, in tymes paste, have not onelie
comonlye used to laye donge and other filth nighe unto the crosse, there to the
great incomoditie of the mket place, and to the great daunger of infection of the
plage, but also have used comonlye to swepe the pavyments there, and thereby
a Duncumb's " Collections towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford," 4to. 1804. p. 399-
+ The will is dated 25th December, 33d Henry viii. and contains the following clause. " i give and bequeath
unto the mayor and aldermen of the city of Coventre, and to the commons of the same, cc£. sterling, to the intent
and purpose hereafter ensuing, that is to say, to make a new cross with in the said city : whereof delivered in hand
to Mr. Warren, draper of the said city, the 24th day of August last xx£. in ready money; and also more paid to
Mr. Over, by the hands of Salt, my Bailie, of Yorall, 70£. in ready money; and so resteth unpaid cx£. sterling,
which i will and desire my executors see to be delivered and paid unto the said mayor and aldermen of Coventre
aforesaid, to the use and intent aforesaid, within one year after my decease," &c.