DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6910#0128
ancient stone crosses.
81
most structures of this kind, it has suffered much from the corrosive influence of bad
weather, but more from the wantonly careless practices of boys, and childish men.
Several of these commonly associate here on particular times of public rejoicing,
and stick lighted candles, and other blazing objects, about it. This, as well
as all other common practices of public folly and mischievousness, should be
decidedly discountenanced and punished by the police of every town: for when
curious memorials of antiquity are once destroyed, they cannot be replaced,
and when lost, almost every person, either sincerely or affectedly, regrets their
annihilation.
The top of this Cross was originally ornamented with a crown, and four small
niches with statues in them. It now measures 43{ feet from the ground to the
summit. The lower tier of arches is 7 feet 10 inches high, and the statue is 5 feet
10 inches.
Cross at Leighton-Buzzaed, Bedfordshire.—The history and antiquities of
this county having never been publicly elucidated, we are at a loss for any satisfactory
accounts of this, and of many other" curious relics. The shape of the arch nearly
approaches the prevalent style of Henry the Eighth's reign, and from this circum-
stance only can we guess at its age. From the court roll of the town, it appears
that this structure was so much dilapidated about the year 1650, that it was deemed
dangerous to the lives of the townsmen : in consequence of which a tax of fourpence
was levied on every inhabitant to defray the expense of a thorough repair. It is
raised on a pentagonal ground plan, and" consists of a central pier, having five small
circular columns attached to it, and five buttress-piers at the angles. Three small
columns unite to each of these, and the surface underneath is ornamented with
groined tracery. Above the arch are fifteen grotesque heads, or masks, in high
basso relievo, running round the cross. The second tier contains five canopied
niches, in each of which was formerly a statue. One of these appears to have been
a Bishop, another the Madonna, a third St. John the Evangelist; and the others are
too much mutilated to preserve any characteristic peculiarity. The whole height of
the Cross, with the steps, is thirty-eight feet. It is built wholly of stone, and stands
m an open area near the market house.
The manor of Leighton-Buzzard, Bussard, or Beaudesart, with the tolls of the
market, belonged, from the time of Henry II. till the year 1411, to the monastery
«f Font Everard, in Normandy, the monks of which established a cell, at a place
m. vol. i.
81
most structures of this kind, it has suffered much from the corrosive influence of bad
weather, but more from the wantonly careless practices of boys, and childish men.
Several of these commonly associate here on particular times of public rejoicing,
and stick lighted candles, and other blazing objects, about it. This, as well
as all other common practices of public folly and mischievousness, should be
decidedly discountenanced and punished by the police of every town: for when
curious memorials of antiquity are once destroyed, they cannot be replaced,
and when lost, almost every person, either sincerely or affectedly, regrets their
annihilation.
The top of this Cross was originally ornamented with a crown, and four small
niches with statues in them. It now measures 43{ feet from the ground to the
summit. The lower tier of arches is 7 feet 10 inches high, and the statue is 5 feet
10 inches.
Cross at Leighton-Buzzaed, Bedfordshire.—The history and antiquities of
this county having never been publicly elucidated, we are at a loss for any satisfactory
accounts of this, and of many other" curious relics. The shape of the arch nearly
approaches the prevalent style of Henry the Eighth's reign, and from this circum-
stance only can we guess at its age. From the court roll of the town, it appears
that this structure was so much dilapidated about the year 1650, that it was deemed
dangerous to the lives of the townsmen : in consequence of which a tax of fourpence
was levied on every inhabitant to defray the expense of a thorough repair. It is
raised on a pentagonal ground plan, and" consists of a central pier, having five small
circular columns attached to it, and five buttress-piers at the angles. Three small
columns unite to each of these, and the surface underneath is ornamented with
groined tracery. Above the arch are fifteen grotesque heads, or masks, in high
basso relievo, running round the cross. The second tier contains five canopied
niches, in each of which was formerly a statue. One of these appears to have been
a Bishop, another the Madonna, a third St. John the Evangelist; and the others are
too much mutilated to preserve any characteristic peculiarity. The whole height of
the Cross, with the steps, is thirty-eight feet. It is built wholly of stone, and stands
m an open area near the market house.
The manor of Leighton-Buzzard, Bussard, or Beaudesart, with the tolls of the
market, belonged, from the time of Henry II. till the year 1411, to the monastery
«f Font Everard, in Normandy, the monks of which established a cell, at a place
m. vol. i.