Sedbergh: Market Place and old Cross

Illustration by J.A. Symington based on sketch by Mr Dawson Watson (1803–1870), father of the illustrator John Dawson Watson (1832-1892)
from Rev. William Thompson Sedbergh, Garsdale, and Dent (Leeds: Richard Jackson, 1892) 74.

The market place before 1854. In 1653 the market cross was the scene of some unintentional vandalism while William Dewsbury was preaching. George Whitehead recalls:

One remarkable Passage I often remember: About the Year, 1653. upon a Market-day, at Sedbury in Yorkshire, as W. D. was publishing the Truth at the Market-Cross, and warning the People to turn from the evil of their ways to the Grace of God, and to the Light in their Consciences, &c. Some rude Persons endeavouring with violence to push him down; and setting their Backs against a high stone Cross, with their hands against him, they pusht down the Cross; which with the fall broke in peices, many being about it, yet it missed the People and little or no hurt was done thereby, whereas, if it had fallen upon them divers might have been killed.
     This preservation I and divers more observed then, as a special Providence of God attending him in his Labour, though I was then but a Youth of sixteen years-old, or thereabouts, being convinced of Truth above a year before.

The Faithful TESTIMONY OF THAT Antient Servant of the Lord, AND Minister
of the everlasting Gospel William Dewsbery (London: Andrew Sowle, 1689) n.p.

According to the Rev. William Thompson,

      The Cross was set up again after this mischance, and continued to shed an air of quaint old-worldiness over the market-place till 1854, when it was removed by some local wiseacres, who foolishly preferred its room to its company, and deprived the town of what many now would have regarded as one of its greatest ornaments. The sheds, or "shades", so-called — a series of sheltered stalls bordering the churchyard — were pulled down at the same time. They had become the questionable haunt of nocturnal prowlers, and we need not much deplore their disappearance. Portions of the cross underwent an ignoble resurrection as gate-posts to a farm-yard ten miles away. Old people, who have a kindly recollection of it, say that it consisted of a plain central column, rising from surrounding steps, and bearing a large round ball atop. Weary wayfarers often found grateful rest on its steps; and sales were announced, and matters of parochial interest published there, as the congregation filed out of church on Sundays.

Sedbergh, Garsdale, and Dent 73–4

A piece of the market cross is now in Brigflatts Friends Meeting House.

With many thanks to Elspeth Griffiths, Diane Elphick, and Richard Cann of Sedbergh and District History Society for supplying the references.

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