There are two socket-stones on a small traffic island on Ermine Street in the centre of Appleby. The eastern stone is referred to as Appleby (1) and the western as Appleby (2).

Parish/DistrictAppleby/North Lincs
LocationAppleby 2: Adjacent to Appleby 1, on a traffic island at the junction of Ermine Street (B1207) and Risby Road.
CategoryMarket Cross (?)
National Grid RefSE 9491 1489
DesignationListed II
Stone TypeLimestone
RefsAndrew, W., 1836, History of Winterton, p.40; Davies, D. S., 1915, Lincs N & Q Vol XIII No.5 pp130
VisitsDS/HH: 12 March 2012

The second of Appleby’s cross bases is a square block with the corners stopped to form an octagon. Most of the square part of the base is buried, with just the corner stops showing. The socket is octagonal and holds a fragment of shaft, cut flush with the top of the socket-stone, clearly outlined with its fixing lead.

Davies does not report this cross base in 1915, and it seems likely that it has been brought here since that date to join its partner. Pevsner comments: ‘On the w side of Ermine Street are the bases of two medieval crosses, perhaps wayside crosses, but thought to have come from Thornholme Priory‘ (Pevsner and Harris 1990, p.103). Whilst this is a plausible tale it is unlikely. More interesting is a remark by Dudley: ‘The base of the old market cross stands at the crossroads near the north end of the village. A large stone in the grounds of the hall is claimed to have formed part of it‘.(Dudley 1931, p.185). Perhaps this second cross was originally located in the grounds of Appleby Hall, or maybe as noted in Appleby 1 above, it served as one of a pair of market crosses at Appleby.

Appleby (2)

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