
Traditionally, the market cross was primarily a symbol of a village’s right to trade. Its structure and placement guaranteed its visibility to a wide number of market participants, suggesting that considerable importance was attached to its function as a symbol.
Williams, G., 2010, Early Markets and the market cross
It is intriguing to speculate on the origins of the market cross, for they have become one of the most enduring forms of standing cross in the country. Their sites and structures, if not always their imagery, have survived despite reformation and religious fundamentalism.
One can imagine that market places would be natural sites for standing crosses as part of the processional route in villages and towns. They are established places for trade, the exchange of news and gossip, public proclamations and official business. All of these activities are further validated by the presence of a sacred symbol or influence to remind all those present of their responsibilities to God. Added to this is the need for the market place itself to be marked out as ‘proper’ and safe place for trading to take place.

Somewhere in this process, the standing cross in the market place starts to become adapted to facilitate trade as well as validating it. Crosses set on steps present a useful platform for the display of market goods, and the bigger the steps, the more display options that are available. Market crosses, with their expansive stepped platforms, have become recognised as a distinct type of standing cross and it seems probable that market cross structures evolved as their role became established.

This evolution can be seen to develop to a point where market crosses transform into buildings which give some degree of protection to the traders. This can be seen at Cheddar, where a protective structure is built around a pre-existing market cross. But in due course, a whole new type of building structure comes into use. An open-sided building – often circular or polygonal – to serve as a focal point for a market place, but still with a cross at its apex – the pre-cursor of the market hall. Typical examples can still be seen in many of the market towns in England.

By the eighteenth century, the need for divine validation at markets had diminished to some extent and yet the terms ‘market cross’ and particularly ‘butter-cross’ endure and market buildings that owe little to past traditions (and have no cross set upon them) are still named in this traditional way. Yet, the ‘Market Hall’ with an open arcaded ground floor and often an upper floor designed as an assembly room for civic functions, is a true descendant of the medieval market cross and the few examples that survive in Lincolnshire have been included in this gazetteer.

There were over a hundred market charters formally granted to Lincolnshire towns and villages between the 11th and 16th centuries and these are listed by the Institute of Historical Research HERE. One might expect each township listed to have erected a market cross to assert their status . . . but cross survival is poor and only 34 of the 114 listed (30%) have either the remains of a market cross, or documentary references to one.
Standing crosses – particularly market crosses (on account of their very public positions) – were often specified as the places where public penance should be performed for sins or misdemeanours. – This tradition later translates to the placing of pillories and stocks next to the cross. An interesting description of penance at a Market Cross appears below:

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