Photograph of the Butter Cross, Winchester
Taken in 1874
Winchester's city cross was erected in the early fifteenth century and restored in 1865. The four principal figures represented on it are a saint, a bishop, a mayor and a king - Alfred the Great is seen here on its west side. Around it are posed half a dozen men and boys, and beyond are the premises of the 'Hampshire Herald' and of the booksellers and stationers Tanner and Sons with the City Cross Steam Printing Works Offices on the right. To the left The Pentice and High Street run east towards the bottom of the town.
In this part of Winchester William the Conqueror's royal palace was built, the area subsequently being known as 'hevyn and helle'. The building to the right with its sharp gable has many fourteenth century features and an earlier cellar.
The Cross, which is traditionally known as the Butter Cross because eggs and butter used to be sold at its steps, was nearly lost in the 1770s when it was purchased by the owner of a nearby country estate, but the citizens of Winchester prevented the workmen from removing it.
The photograph was taken by Winchester photographer William Savage (1817-87) and is found in an album entitled 'Winchester Views of Old Buildings'.
