Market cross

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An elaborate market cross in Malmesbury

A market cross is a structure used to mark a market square in market towns, originally from Western European architecture. Market crosses can be found in most market towns in Britain, with those in Scotland known as "mercat crosses". British emigrants often installed such crosses in their new cities and several can be found in Canada and Australia. These structures range from carved stone spires, obelisks or crosses, common to small market towns, such as that in Stalbridge, Dorset, to large, ornate covered structures, such as the Chichester Cross in Chichester, West Sussex. One of the finest examples of market crosses in Devon can be found in the Dartmoor village of South Zeal. Market Crosses can also be constructed from wood, for example Wymondham, Norfolk has a market cross that dates back to the 13th century and rebuilt in 1617-18 that is made out of timber (See gallery below).