Alfriston Market Cross, Market cross in Alfriston, England.
Alfriston Market Cross is a stone monument standing at the village center with a medieval shaft rising from a brick foundation. A stone cornice was added to the top in 1833, giving the structure its current proportions and appearance.
The structure dates to 1406 when King Henry IV granted permission for a weekly Tuesday market to operate in Alfriston. Centuries of wear and damage to the monument eventually led to a metal core being inserted for reinforcement.
The market cross was where local traders gathered to sell goods and set prices for their merchandise. Its placement in the village center still shows where the heart of the community's commerce once beat.
The cross sits right in the village center and is easily reached on foot, making it a natural meeting point while exploring. The surrounding area is flat and straightforward to navigate, with shops and cafes nearby.
Only two market crosses of this type survive in Sussex today, making this one particularly significant. The other stands in Chichester, several miles away.
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