Title:  The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 470 Volume XVII, No. 470, Saturday, January 8, 1831

Author:  Various

Release Date:  September 18, 2004 [EBook #13495]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

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Vol XVII, no. 470.] Saturday, January 8, 1831. [Price 2d.

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[Illustration:  Chichester cross.]

Few places in Britain can boast of higher antiquity than the city of Chichester.  Its origin is supposed to date back beyond the invasion of Britain by the Romans.  It was destroyed towards the close of the fifth century, by Ella, but rebuilt by his son, Cissa, the second king of the South Saxons, who named it after himself, and made it the royal residence and capital of his dominions.

Chichester, as may be expected, is a fertile field for antiquarian research.  Its cathedral, churches, and ecclesiastical buildings abound with fine architecture; and its Cross is entitled to special mention.  It is thus minutely described in the Beauties of England and Wales: 

The Cross stands in the centre of the city, at the intersection of the four principal streets.  According to the inscription upon it, this Cross was built by Edward Story, who was translated to this see from that of Carlisle, in 1475.  It was repaired during the reign of Charles II., and at the expense of the Duke of Richmond, in 1746; though we are told that Bishop Story left an estate at Amberley, worth full 25_l._ per annum, to keep it in constant repair; but a few years afterwards the mayor and corporation sold it, in order to purchase another nearer home.  The date of the erection of this structure is not mentioned in the inscription; but, from the style and ornaments, it must be referred to the time of Edward IV.  This Cross is universally acknowledged to be one of the most elegant buildings of the kind existing in England.  Its form is octangular, having a strong butment at each angle, surmounted with pinnacles.  On each of its faces is an entrance through a pointed arch, ornamented with crockets and a finial.  Above this, on four of its sides, is a tablet, to commemorate its reparation in the reign of Charles II.  Above each tablet is a dial, exhibiting the hour to each of the three principal streets; the fourth being excluded from this advantage by standing at an angle.  In the centre is a large circular column, the basement of which forms a seat:  into this column is inserted