Over the years, Chichester’s Market Cross has become a well recognised feature of the city. It is believed to have been built in 1501 by Bishop Edward Story, who paid ten pounds to the Mayor of Chichester for the ground on which it is built. The Bishop allowed poor peasants, who only had a few eggs or vegetables to sell, to trade without paying a toll provided they could stand under the cross. Bishop Story died in 1503 and left £25 a year in his will for the upkeep of the structure.
The Cross was built on the site of an earlier wooden construction which had been erected by Bishop Rede (1369-1385) close to the original Roman roads. The current Cross is an eight-sided structure made of Caen stone, a popular building material of the time, and has a central column which is supported by eight flying buttresses. Around the base of the column is a low stone seating area with a stone-paved floor. Each side has an arch carved with the Bishop’s mitre, or headdress, and bosses of demi-angels.
The Cross ceased to serve its original purpose in 1808, when the increased population of the city meant a more extensive market area was required and a large market house was built in North Street. At this time it was proposed to demolish the Cross as it was considered a nuisance. This was prevented when several local people purchased houses on the north side of the Cross, allowing the widening of the street after their demolition.
What a beautiful market cross – thanks so much for all the interesting information on its history
I like this market cross because it is still central at a crossroads and easily viewed from different angles
it is a nice structure and i imagine it was a well appreciated gesture towards the poor peasants, CP. pleased to know that it survived.
It is an interesting insight into the past
I quite enjoyed my time in Chichester.
The weather was rubbish but the city still offered quite a bit to explore.
By the way, I am flying back to Malaysia for a long holiday.
So see you in March
Have fun
I look forward to seeing photographs from your travels 
That brilliant blue sky provides an amazing background.
The summer sky was particularly beautiful during our summer months last year