Mab's Cross, Medieval stone cross in Wigan, England
Mab's Cross is a medieval stone cross in Wigan made of gritstone, standing on a square base along Standishgate street. The structure features a shaft mounted on a plinth that has survived for centuries.
The cross was first documented in 1277 as a waypoint on a medieval route connecting Wigan and Chorley. It was relocated to its current position in 1921 to make room for road expansion.
The cross takes its name from Lady Mabel Bradshaigh, a 14th-century benefactor who founded religious chapels in the region. The name still connects this site to Wigan's religious past.
The cross stands freely accessible along Standishgate street and can be viewed at any time without special arrangements. Its location near the Mab's Cross Hotel makes it easy to find.
The structure contains original leaded boreholes that served as attachment points for steel clamps, revealing medieval construction methods. These details often escape notice but tell us much about how craftspeople built such monuments.
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