Relhan Collection : 296 Stretham. Village cross

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

Labelled ‘View of the Ancient Cross at Streatham Isle of Ely’. Relhan’s rural setting demonstrates that this was not drawn from life, for all other sources (before and after Relhan) place it in its current location near the church, the space used as market for many centuries. It is an exceptionally good example (‘finest in county’, VCH) of the carved stone market crosses commonly erected as centre pieces of markets in medieval towns and villages. They were generally built long after the market itself was founded and even after it was given legal status. A market and two annual fairs had been established in Stretham in 1634, and were in existence 40 years later, when Ogilby described Stretham as 'somewhat scattering'. By the beginning of C19 they had ceased for some time. Market places were commonly laid out, as at Stretham, close to churches and were licensed to open on set days each week or month. This cross is made of Barnack limestone and dates to c. 1400. It has a square head with 4 niches (for statues?) and a handsome weathercock. Relhan shows the collar of quatrefoils as crosses and rather too upright and wide with the sections of the shaft more obvious than reality, but his depiction of the two-stage plinth convincingly suggests that the cross was essentially supported as it is today, contrary to the Gentleman’s Magazine’slater sketch of 1832 which shows barely any plinth at all, and VCH 1953 which suggest that the plinth replaced an original flight of stone steps. Cole 1748 shows it with a different base, with 4 rings of stone steps, and blank shields instead of quatrefoils. Lysons says that ‘in the highway near the church, stands an elegant Gothic cross, on an octagonal base, ornamented with quatrefoils, at the top are 4 niches with pedestals for images’. It was restored 1910.Petty in Davis et al 2000; Evelyn-White 1911; Lysons 1808; Palmer 1932; Saunders P pers comm; VCH 1953