are told that Bishop Story left an estate at Amberley, worth full
25_l._ per annum, to keep it in constant repair; but a few years
afterwards the mayor and corporation sold it, in order to purchase
another nearer home. The date of the erection of this structure is not
mentioned in the inscription; but, from the style and ornaments, it
must be referred to the time of Edward IV. This Cross is universally
acknowledged to be one of the most elegant buildings of the kind
existing in England. Its form is octangular, having a strong butment
at each angle, surmounted with pinnacles. On each of its faces is an
entrance through a pointed arch, ornamented with crockets and a
finial. Above this, on four of its sides, is a tablet, to commemorate
its reparation in the reign of Charles II. Above each tablet is a
dial, exhibiting the hour to each of the three principal streets; the
fourth being excluded from this advantage by standing at an angle. In
the centre is a large circular column, the basement of which forms a
seat: into this column is inserted a number of groinings, which,
spreading from the centre, form the roof beautifully moulded. The
central column appears to continue through the roof, and is supported
without by eight flying buttresses, which rest on the several corners
of the building. Till a few years since this Cross was used as a
market-place; but the increased population of the city requiring a
more extensive area for that purpose, a large and convenient
market-house was, about the year 1807, erected in the North-street; on
the completion of which, it was proposed to take down this Cross, then
considered as a nuisance. Fortunately, however, the city was exempted
from the reproach of such a proceeding by the public spirit of some of
the members of the corporation, who purchased several houses on the
north side of the Cross, in order to widen that part of the street, by
their demolition.