Building record 1676/0/1 - The Eleanor Cross, Geddington

The site of the Geddington Eleanor Cross, a standing stone cross erected at the end of the 13th century in memory of Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I. Eleanor was born in 1241 and married Edward on 1 November 1254. Following Henry III's death they were crowned together on 19 August 1274. Over the years Elanor greatly expanded her estates and by 1290 her lands were annually worth upwards of £2500. An intelligent and learned woman, she supported the English universities and founded several Dominican houses. She and Edward had sixteen children, including Edward II, Joan of Acre, and Mary of Woodstock. While with Edward in Aquitaine in 1287 Eleanor contracted the fatal fever from which she later died on the 28 November 1290 at Harby, Nottinghamshire. Her funeral procession passed from Lincoln to Westminster and she was buried in Westminster Abbey on 17 December; her viscera were interred in Lincoln Cathedral and her heart in the Dominicans' London church. Edward marked her funeral procession with twelve monumental crosses between Lincoln and Westminster; those at Geddington (the best preserved), Hardingstone, and Waltham survive. The cross at Geddington marks the resting place of her body on the night of 6-7 December 1290. The cross is situated over a conduit at the junction of three roads in the centre on the village. It is spire-shaped and includes a stepped base, plinth and spire. The plinth was altered in 1892 when the original eight steps were replaced by the present seven. The spire of the cross takes the form of a tall pinnacle of three receding stages. It is constructed of local limestone, principally Weldon stone with string courses and weatherings of Stanion stone. Above the spire stood the terminal of the cross which is now missing. On the south west side of the cross, abutting the lowest step is a conduit house, built in 1769 and restored in 1868. It is also unusual in its incorporation of a public water supply within a royal memorial.

{1} Monumental cross. Shortly after 1290. Discreetly restored 1892. Weldon limestone ashlar. Triangular in plan, with a tall, subtly moulded basement divided by a string, with diapering throughout and shields, carved with the arms of England, Leon and Castile, and Ponthieu, to the upper part. The middle section is made up of canopied niches, containing 3 figures of Queen Eleanor. Spikily pinnacled upper part. The cross which doubtless originally crowned the whole is missing. The monument is raised on T hexagonal stone steps, with some blue brick repair. To south is a low block, "built 1789" (on shield), topped by a single massive slab and containing 2 round-headed entrances (with studded round-headed doors) leading to the spring over which the cross is built. A metal plate records that "This monument is in the care of the Ministry of Public Building and Works". It is the best preserved of the 3 survivors (the others are at Hardingstone and Waltham) of 12 crosses erected by Edward I in memory of his wife, Eleanor of Castile, at the resting places of her funeral cortege during its journey from Lincoln to Westminster Abbey after her death in 1290. (At Geddington this was probably the royal hunting lodge which formerly existed north-east of the church). With its subtle geometry, rich decoration and elegant sculpture, this monument is an outstanding example of the court style, of Edward I and represents a high point in English Decorated architecture. Scheduled ancient monument.

{2} Monumental cross built shortly after 1290. It was discreetly restored in 1892.

{5} The Queen Eleanor Cross was erected in 1290 after her funeral procession passed from Lincoln to Westminster. The steps of the cross were rebuilt in the 19th century. The monument is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I Listed Building.

{10} Watercolour elevation and plan.

{12} Structure: medieval cross. Queen Eleanor's Cross at Geddington. Probably erected C.1294; repaired in 1800 & again in 1890.

{13} Two undated photos.

{14} Documented.

{15} The site of the Geddington Eleanor Cross, a standing stone cross erected at the end of the 13th century in memory of Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I.Eleanor was born in 1241and married Edward on 1 November 1254. Following Henry III's death they were crowned together on 19 August 1274. Over the years Elanor greatly expanded her estates and by 1290 her lands were annually worth upwards of £2500. An intelligent and learned woman, she supported the English universities and founded several Dominican houses. She and Edward had sixteen children, including Edward II, Joan of Acre, and Mary of Woodstock. While with Edward in Aquitaine in 1287 Eleanor contracted the fatal fever from which she later died on the 28 November 1290 at Harby, Nottinghamshire. Her funeral procession passed from Lincoln to Westminster and she was buried in Westminster Abbey on 17 December; her viscera were interred in Lincoln Cathedral and her heart in the Dominicans' London church. Edward marked her funeral procession with twelve monumental crosses between Lincoln and Westminster; those at Geddington (the best preserved), Hardingstone, and Waltham survive.

{17} Painting dated August 17th 1843, photo, sketch with measurements;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 12/297 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), J12 p.50 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1926, Third Edition Ordnance Survey Mapping Series (39SW), (unchecked) (Map). SNN28623.

<4> 1878, The Archaeological Journal (35), p.200 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN15197.

<5> English Heritage, 1996, Scheduled Ancient Monuments Notification, 1996, (part checked) (Schedule). SNN2083.

<6> Markham C.A., 1901, The Stone Crosses of Northamptonshire, p.7 (unchecked) (Report). SNN5725.

<7> 1878, The Archaeological Journal (35), p.440 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN15197.

<7> 1892, The Archaeological Journal (49), p.25 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN15108.

<9> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, Parish Files (part checked) (Archive). SNN115.

<11> 1983, HBMC List of Scheduled Monuments, (part checked) (Catalogue). SNN55523.

<12> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP88SE6 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<13> Photographs of buildings in Geddington (Photographs). SNN112170.

<14> 2000, Monuments Protection Programme - Water and Sewage Industries, Step 3 Report (Report). SNN100607.

<15> Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edn, Jan 2006 <<http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8619>> [Accessed 16-MAR-2011] (Book). SNN113005.

<16> Historic England, Eleanor Cross, Geddington (Archive). SNN114824.

<17> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/120/2,4,5 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Sep 4 2024 12:31PM