The Old Rochdale Market Cross in Greater Manchester.

The old cross that stands beside the Packer Spout, just opposite Rochdale Town Hall and beside the steep steps (Church Steps) going up to the parish church of St Chad, is fairly recent, well maybe 19th century, but the circular, stepped and moulded base could be late medieval or post medieval in date? The base stones are thought to be the only remaining part of the old Rochdale Market Cross. The original open market used to be located at the bottom of Yorkshire Street, but was moved for a time to the Town Hall Square, close-by Packer Spout.

In the entrance to the Touchstones Museum an ornate cross-head is on display. Could this have once adorned the top of the present Market Cross, probably not. The shaft of (this) cross is much more recent, but the cornice and stone sphere (ball finial) on top could be 18th or 19th century in date, and, therefore, much more recent than the cross-head in the museum across the road on the Esplanade, which looks distinctly Medieval. The market cross, in its entirety, originally stood at the bottom of Yorkshire Street back in the early 19th century.

The Packer Spout fountain, mentioned earlier, is still flowing in St Chad's Garden and was the town's main water supply for a few hundred years or more. The old Market Cross is Grade II listed. List Entry No: 1031929. The Ordnance Survey Grid Reference is: SD 89641321.

Sources/References:

The illustration (above) of the Rochdale Market Cross is by courtesy of Greg Couzens on The Original Rochdale Memories group on Facebook. Thankyou most kindly Greg.

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101031929-market-cross-milkstone-and-deeplish-ward#.Y6otz7rP3IU

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101031929-market-cross-milkstone-and-deeplish-ward/photos/21906

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