Crosses
The only surviving free standing cross in Grantham is in the Market Place. The base is probably thirteenth century, and the upper part fifteenth century. It was removed from the Market Place in 1886 and replaced with an obelisk. The obelisk was removed in 1910 and the cross put back on, or very close to, its original position. This cross may have been used as a place for preaching, public proclamation and penance, defining rights of sanctuary or perhaps to validate transactions.
There was another cross in Grantham which was located on St Peter’s Hill, probably close to where the statue of Isaac Newton stands now. It is thought that it could have been a boundary marker erected early on in the medieval period by Peterborough Abbey who owned land there. It was demolished in 1645.
Related Pages
Archaeological evidence | Castle | Conduit | Domesday and the feudal system | Education | Further reading | Games and festivities | Law and Order | Other surviving parts of medieval Grantham | Population and status | Religious Houses | Religious Life | St Margaret’s Hospital | Surnames | Trade | Women
