Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses
Sandbach Crosses

Image credit: Margaret Lawless / Art UK

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Notes

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A pair of Saxon crosses in the Market Square. The taller cross has a mutilated head and the shorter one has a truncated shaft with the mutilated head of another cross. Both crosses are decorated on all faces with carved figures, animals and vine scrolls. The taller cross has biblical scenes, depicting Christ's progress to Calvary, the Annunciation, the Crucifixion, the Adoration of the Magi, the Nativity and the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor. The smaller cross has less narrative ornament, except on the west face where there are depictions of the Transfiguration, the Adoration of Virgin and Child and the Adoration of Christ Other faces depict a variety of figures, animals and foliate ornament. Both crosses were standing in the reign of Elizabeth I but, in the seventeenth century, the central part of the large cross and some fragments of the other were taken by Sir John Crewe to Utkinton and erected there.

Title

Sandbach Crosses

Date

early 19th C

Medium

sandstone

Measurements

H 480 x W (?) x D (?) cm

Accession number

CW11_ML_S017

Work type

Cross

Owner

Cheshire East Council

Custodian

Cheshire East Council

Work status

extant

Listing status

Grade I (England and Wales)

Listing date

30/11/25

Inscription description

inscribed on plaque: SANDBACH CROSSES / THESE CROSSES ARE IN THE CARE / OF THE MINISTRY OF WORKS / IT IS AN OFFENCE TO INJURE / OR DEFACE THEM; inscribed on plaque: SANDBACH CROSSES / COMPLETED IN THE 9TH CENTURY AD / TO COMMEMORATE THE / ADVENT OF CHRISTIANITY / IN THIS KINGDOM OF MERCIA / ABOUT 633 AD IN THE REIGN OF / THE SAXON KING PENDA / RESTORED IN 1816 BY / SIR JOHN EGERTON AFTER / DESTRUCTION BY ICONOCLASTS

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Located at

Market Square, Sandbach

CW11 1AT