172 The Bristol High Oross at Stourhead, Wilts. 
somewhat fuller technical description than 
“fs appears to have been previously done. 
imu Se The Cross was first erected in 1378, at the 
p i intersection of the four principal streets of 
34 Bristol (where a former “ High Cross ”’ stood, 
=e t. 4 as mentioned in a MS. Calendar of 1247) to 
ae hs : commemorate the separation of Bristol from 
F { Gloucester, by a charter granted to the bur- 
gesses by Edward III! By comparing it 
with the Eleanor Crosses, and by the light of 
documentary evidence which exists as to the 
1. J missing parts of these, as well as with other 
a erections more nearly its contemporaries, we 
| can arrive at a very good idea of what the 
: | 
| l: Bristol Cross was at that time. It consisted 
“a ‘i of a bench-table forming a seat, and possibly 
ie n il two or three steps (all of which were probably 
wos wi 
| pared off by degrees as the demand on the 
space around increased) on which stood the 
lower stage A (see hey diagram) which was 
square on plan, and, unlike the existing 
Cepepone ee . 
ppt? tamer, 1__ Kleanor Crosses which had the lower stage 
solid, was open, and formed by four piers, 
each composed of a diagonal buttress with attached shafts, and a 
central shaft supporting an elaborately groined canopy, with a 
cusped arch surmounted by crocketted pediment and finial on each 
of the four sides. 
Above this was a base of tabernacle work (B) of sufficient height 
to lift the statues above the finials of the pediments in front of 
them, with a central core and corbels for the figures; the diagonal 
buttresses of the lower stage being continued up past it and sur- 
mounted by crocketted finials. This base supports the stage of 
effigies (C) which is the raison d’étre of the design. Pooley, in 
his Crosses of Gloucestershire, published in 1868 (his information 
1 Barrett’s History of Bristol (1789), p. 473. 
