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homage to the Christian religion, and to inspire men with a sense 
of morality and piety amidst the ordinary transactions of life.” 
Fosbroke in his Encyclopedia of Antiquities says—‘As crosses 
were in every place designed to check a worldly spirit, these, (that 
is, market crosses), were intended to inculcate upright intentions 
and fairness of dealing.” The thought that there was no longer 
a necessity for these ‘‘ gentle reminders” in our days of ad- 
vanced civilization would be some compensation for the disappear- 
ance and demolition of these interesting memorials, but it 
is to be feared the need for them is just as great in the 19th as 
it was in the 13th century. They generally consisted of a flight 
of three or more steps surmounted by a large base above which 
rose a tall shaft, capped with a cross. In many instances 
however they assumed much larger proportions and as at 
Malmsbury, Chichester, Salisbury, &c., were sufficiently com- 
modious to shelter a considerable number of persons. Round 
some of these crosses is entwined a wreath of associations which 
render their history of the greatest interest to all who care to 
rescue from oblivion the annals of an almost forgotten past. 
BURNLEY MARKET CROSS. 
The original Market cross of Burnley which has now found 
a resting place behind the Crimean Guns, stood as you are aware 
along with the stocks, in the open space opposite the gates of St. 
Peter's Church.* This cross is of considerable antiquity, as may 
be gathered from a statement of its re-erection, which occurs in 
an account roll of the 23rd year of Edward I. ‘‘ Et de ixs jd in 
i Cruce de novo faciendo et erigendo in Merkato de Brunley.” In 
22 Edward I. [1293-4] Henry de Lacey, Earl of Lincoln, 
obtained a charter for a market every Tuesday, at his Manor of 
Burnley, as also a fair yearly, on the eve-day and morrow of the 
feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. We are carried back by 
this statement to the end of the 13th century. We have no re- 
cords of remarkable incidents which have taken place at this 
cross, but some few years ago a curious transaction was carried 
out here. A woman rejoicing in the soubriquet of ‘‘ Padiham 
Mall” was sold here by her husband. As we were informed a 
few weeks ago the highest bid was but 8d. This kind of thing 
was apparently rather common a few years back, for we read of 
a similar sale at the Colne market cross at the fair of 1814. In 
this case however the bidding was more spirited, as the good 
lady fetched some few pounds. 
In 1520, what is known as the Foldys Cross was erected, 
and this was subsequently used as the Market Cross. It occupied 
a position now taken up by the path to the south door of the 
*A Photograph of this cross taken previous to its removal has been 
published by the Club. 
