| Parish/District | Spilsby/East Lindsey |
| Location | at the eastern end of Spilsby market place |
| Category | Market cross |
| National Grid Ref | TF 40299 66118 |
| Designation | Scheduled / Listed II |
| Stone Type | Limestone and sandstone |
| Refs | AP Survey 19 Oct 1994; Davies, D S, 1915, Lincs N & Q, Vol XIII No.6, pp. 214-215 |
| Visits | AP: 19 Oct 1994 DS/HH: 21 May 2010 |
Spilsby has a fine market cross – often termed the Butter Cross – situated at the eastern end of Spilsby market place.
Its base is formed of five steps of limestone blocks, probably medieval in origin, which have been repaired and rebuilt with sandstone flags. Further additions were made in the present century when the lowest step was raised and the top of the uppermost step chamfered with a layer of mortar screed. There are several newspaper reports of repairs made to the cross.
The steps are square in plan, covering an area approximately 3.9m square, and are joined with mortar with the remains of iron clamps. On the uppermost step rest the plinth and socket stone, both square in section and constructed of limestone. The socket stone is c. 0.71m square by 0.31m high.
The plinth is simply chamfered, while the socket stone is carved with architectural ornament: at the centre of each side is a shield flanked by single vertical panels with round-trefoil heads, and at the corners are panels including a stylised cross motif formed by four radiating semicircles. Both the plinth and the socket stone are believed to be medieval in date. There are small, plugged holes in the east and west sides.
Set in lead in the centre of the socket stone is a post-medieval shaft constructed of two pieces of sandstone, 0.3m square in section at the base and rising above moulded and chamfered corners in tapering octagonal section. The upper section of the shaft has modern repairs visible.
The knop is also octagonal and is decorated with recessed panels containing shields – it is much weathered and may be medieval in origin. Above the knop, on three receding stages, stands a modern cross head in the form of a plain Latin cross. The full height of the market cross is approximately 5.4m.
Comparison of modern photographs with earlier versions (e.g. early 20th C postcards) suggests that the cross shaft has been repaired at least twice and is modern. The cross head and the staged mount below it have also clearly been replaced in the 20th century. There are newspaper reports from 1839, 1911 and 1922 reporting the cross damaged by gales and the shaft and the head would be particularly vulnerable to such mishaps – but the plinth and the base are medieval and, surprisingly, it looks as if the knop might also be a medieval survival.
The settlement of Spilsby was moved from its original site (Old Spilsby, east of Partney Bridge) in the mid 13th century. The vill had charters for markets and fairs, granted in 1250-60, which were confirmed in 1305, presumably after the settlement had been relocated. It is thus quite possible that the ancient parts of Spilsby’s market cross date from the fourteenth century.
Newspaper reports of 1911 (left) and 1922 (below) recording repairs to Spilsby market cross
