Eleanor’s Cross, Hardingstone

Eleanor Cross at Hardingstone, Northampton

Eleanor’s Cross, Hardingstone

Where is it – East Midlands, England

Who looks after it –  English Heritage 

What is it –  Free access, Memorial, Royal connection 

When is it from – Medieval

Hardingstone has one of three surviving Eleanor Crosses from the 12 ordered by Edward I to commemorate his beloved wife, Eleanor of Castile. Eleanor died at Harby, near Lincoln, in 1290 and a cross was subsequently erected at every point where the cortege carrying her body rested on its long journey south to Westminster. Beginning at Lincoln, crosses were put up at Grantham, Stamford, Geddington, Hardingstone, Stony Stratford, Woburn, Dunstable, St Albans, Waltham and Cheapside. The twelfth and final cross was in the hamlet of Charing, just outside the King’s Palace of Westminster. The other two surviving crosses are at Geddington and Waltham Cross. The Hardingstone Cross is on the eastern side of London Road (the A508) very close to the busy junction and roundabout with the A45. The Battle of Northampton took place on the golf course on the other side of the hedge on 10 July 1460 – it was an emphatic Yorkist victory.  There is parking in a residential area on the western side of London Road.

 


Address

London Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN4 8AX 

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