Monument record MDO30088 - Butter Cross, Shaftesbury

The Butter Cross or Cheese Cross (also formerly called the Poultry Cross) was erected by Edmund Bower in 1562. It stood in the butter market, which was at the junction between High Street and Bell Street, Shaftesbury. The cross was demolished in 1727, but an inscribed stone on the cross was removed and preserved. The cross had a reservoir on it at one time, for the supply of water to the town.

ST 86202300. Butter or Cheese Cross anciently called the Poultry Cross. This building stood in the butter market. It was demolished in 1727, but an inscribed stone on the cross was removed and preserved. It records that the cross was erected by Edmund Bower in 1562.

(The plan in Hutchins shows the cross in the centre of the road junction formed by High Street and Bell Street and describes it as the Butter Cross) The cross had a reservoir on it at one time, for the supply of water to the town. <1-2>

The site falls in the centre of a road junction and no visible trace of the cross remains. <3>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 3. 3rd edition, 43 (Monograph). SDO11486.

<2> Pope, A, 1906, Old Stone Crosses of Dorset, 96 (Bibliographic reference). SWX1408.

<3> Edwards, D W, Field Investigator's Comments DE, F1 DE 28-JAN-56 (Unpublished document). SDO18341.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1980, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1977, 2 (Serial). SDO77.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206444 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 3 2022 11:21AM