Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross, Memorial obelisk in Westminster, England.
The Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross stands before Charing Cross Station as a Gothic revival structure with multiple sculptural figures and ornamental details. The monument features elaborate carved columns, pointed arches, and relief sculptures that recreate medieval craftsmanship.
The monument was built in 1864 as a replacement for the original Eleanor Cross from 1291, which marked the funeral procession of Queen Eleanor. This Victorian reconstruction was part of a wider movement to revive medieval monuments.
The memorial displays heraldic shields from England, León, Castile, and Ponthieu, reflecting Queen Eleanor's royal lineage and family connections. These symbols tell visitors about her position in medieval European politics.
The monument sits at a busy intersection near Charing Cross Station and is easy to reach on foot from the station or nearby bus routes. Visitors can walk around it from all sides and photograph it from multiple angles.
Designer Edward Middleton Barry consulted historical drawings from the Bodleian Library and British Museum to recreate the original medieval form with precision. This careful research makes it one of the most accurate Victorian reconstructions of its era.
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