Chichester Cross, Market cross building in Chichester, England.
Chichester Cross is an octagonal stone building featuring pointed arch entrances on each of its eight sides, with buttresses and pinnacles as decorative elements. The structure stands freely in the traffic-free city center surrounded by the four main streets of town.
A bishop commissioned this stone structure between 1477 and 1503 to replace an earlier wooden building. During the 17th century the building underwent repairs which are documented by tablets above the entrances.
The cross marks the point where four main streets come together and serves as a natural gathering place in the heart of the city. You will see people meeting here regularly, and it remains the spot where public life unfolds.
The building sits in a pedestrian zone making it easy to access and view from all sides. Three clock faces on the structure display time to people walking through the area.
The stonework at the entrances shows craftsmanship from different periods reflecting various phases of repair and maintenance. Visitors can spot subtle differences in texture and style of stones added over the centuries when looking carefully.
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