Market Cross

The Market Cross, erected to the memory of Lord & Lady Armstrong, was unveiled on August 2nd 1902 by Sir Lowthian Bell, Lord Armstrong's oldest friend.

"This monument was erected in the year 1902,
on the site of the ancient market cross, by
the inhabitants of Rothbury and other friends,
in admiration and grateful remembrance
of the long and useful lives of
William George Baron Armstrong of Cragside, C.B.
(1810-1900), and of Margaret his wife (1807-1893)."

But whilst it is imposing, hewn from rock in Cragside and carved to an extremely high standard, the historic Market Cross was entirely different. Erected in 1722 the it was a square building with a roof and four open sides, designed to afford shelter to those attending the weekly market. This type of building and its use can still be seen in other areas of Northumberland.

By 1827 the building, showed its age and was considered dangerous. The decision was taken to demolish it, much to the dismay of many villagers, one of whom penned a long lament, which served to indicate an element of sadness at its loss, as well as registering some of the local village names.

"Ye ancient inhabitants mourn for the loss
Of that venerable pile, I mean Rothbury Cross
Where oft in my childhood I happy did play
With youthful companions long since away.

There was the Grahams, the Milburns, the Storers and Storeys,
The Clennels, the Snawdons, the Todds and the Dores,
The Matthews and Mavins - that's just half a score.
Believe me dear neighbours there is a few more.

If the age of the cross you are wishful to know
To the Black Bull yard I ask you to go.
Where with letters inserted, conspicuous to view
Is Seventeen hundred and twenty-two."

Every last stone from the building was removed and Dippie Dixon reported in 1893 that the only remaining stone with an inscription was built into the gable end of a house in the Black Bull Yard with the name Archibold Douglas the only one still legible. The other men of note being Robert Snawdon and Robert Redhead.

It is worth noting here that, whilst many inns from the past have disappeared, directly opposite the cross is the Newcastle Hotel formerly known as the Black Bull.

"The old Rifleman Inn, a relic of the Rothbury of one hundred years ago, when the village was described as 'a poor town of two streets, which are not paved and the houses are mostly thatched ; they cover them with sods for warmth and with heath which will last thirty years' has at last succumbed to the improving spirit of these modern times. "The Rifleman" was an old thatched house that stood at the lower end of the village, which having been recently purchased by Mr A. Scott, butcher, is now in the process of being rebuilt."

Near the cross stood the pillory and the village stocks although there are no traces today. The last person known to have been confined to

the stocks was Archie Deedles in 1820 for drunk & disorderly conduct, whilst cock fighting continued far longer. Close by was the Bull Ring. Quite a savage age by today's standards: at least in Rothbury.

Today it is difficult to imagine all this, with the present cross surrounded by a quiet area of lawn and enclosed by railings, newly erected in 2002 to replace those removed as part of the war effort: a far cry from the savagery of earlier years.