Monument record MDO44487 - Gold Hill Cross, Shaftesbury

(On Upjohn's plan a cross is depicted west of St. Peter's Church, at the north end of Gold Hill, where the Town Hall now stands at ST 86262293). <1>

The Cross which formerly stood at the west of St Peter's Church on Gold Hill was removed to make way for the present Market House. ("Guildhall" is evidently meant; the Market House is situated north of St. Peter's Church away from Gold Hill). "The existing Guildhall (i.e. the present Town Hall) covers the site where Gold Hill Cross stood". <2>

Gold, or Gould Hill Cross stood near St. Peter's Church, where the present Guildhall, erected by the Marquis of Westminster in 1827, now stands. It consisted of a basement and two steps surmounted by a pedestal in which was set a massive octagonal shaft, upon which was a Latin cross. It was removed to provide a site. <3>

No information as to the disposal of the Cross after its removal was obtained during field investigation. <4>

<1> Hutchins, J R, 1803, The History and Antiquities of The County of Dorset Volume 2. 2nd edition, Opposite page 391 (Monograph). SDO18013.

Upjohn's Planof Shaftesbury 1799 Appx scale 20" 1 mile

<2> Shipp, W (ed), 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 3, 43 (Monograph). SWX3207.

Willis's Plan of Shaftesbury 1615 scale 16" 1 mile

<3> Pope, A, 1906, Old Stone Crosses of Dorset, 95-6 (Bibliographic reference). SWX1408.

<4> Edwards, D W, Field Investigator's Comments DE, F1 DE 27-JAN-56 (Unpublished document). SDO18341.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206507 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 3 2022 2:14PM