Thursday 5 October 2017

Oakham Market Cross

Oakham Market Cross is a buttercross, a type of medieval cross often found in market towns. The name buttercross comes from the practice of selling local dairy produce and eggs around the base of the cross. Oakham cross consists of a stone pillar with a wooden octagonal pyramid roof around it held up by 8 timber posts [1]. The cross is located outside of Oakham school and near the market place. A set of stocks lies underneath the roof by the pillar - no longer in use!


[1] Nikolaus Pevsner, Leicestershire & Rutland (Penguin, 1960) p. 318