What simple, ancient symbol can you find in many Dales villages and market towns? Most of us walk past them without a second glance, yet they're full of history and stories. Despite their name, they come in a variety of shapes and structures: market crosses.
The Normans first established many markets in this area. A regular market could only be legally created with the King's permission, in the form of a charter. When you look more closely you'll probably notice plaques proudly proclaiming the date of the first market, often as early as the 12th century. A market cross was usually erected to denote the trading point. It's thought a cross was sometimes borrowed from a local church, or the sign of a cross adopted to signify trustworthiness and honest trading.
Many of the early markets were established around homes of powerful families, or castles such as the one at Richmond. Often goods were traded in two directions, such as corn from one area, and wool and knitted goods from another, both exchanged at the same meeting place.
Some of the earliest market charters were for Wensley in 1202, East Witton - 1219, Settle - 1249 and Grassington - 1281. Most of these places were once much bigger and more important as trading points. Drovers used markets, although many of the livestock markets were outside the villages, such as the one on Malham Moor. Some markets were lucky enough to have indoor or sheltered facilities like Hawes Market House.
Where you can't still see a market cross, there are still traces of previous markets in the shape of older cobbled areas in town and village centres, such as Grassington, Reeth or Askrigg. Masham's market square is one of the largest in Northern England - once used for trading thousands of sheep.
Where have you spotted market crosses or their remains? Or spaces that were previously used for markets?