The Cross

Did you know that once upon a time you could pass either side of the Cross?

A postcard picture of Malpas Cross

The first picture is obviously from a sketch so it could perhaps be deemed as artistic licence.

Picture 2 is a photograph. This would seemingly suggesting that the highway went both sides of the Cross.
However, in antiquity it was part of the area where the village fairs and markets were held.
Until very recently it was never recognised by Cheshire West Council as being part of their highway network.

The Pet Stop was at that time Bentley's cycle shop, and who remembers Salts shop where until 2021 the Co-op store was also located.

An old photograph of Church Street looking towards The Cross. This illustrates that the road once went the other side of the Cross where the steps exist today.

Note the Horse Traffic only
The other interest of note in the above photograph is the ongoing construction of the old Post Office front. This has recently been removed and the property returned to a private residence.

The picture below gives a view of the Cross looking up Church Street.

The Cross circa 1800's

It has yet to be fully established, but the closest guess we have at present is that the thoroughfare was closed off with bollards and the steps constructed sometime before 1912. (See the picture below)

Ahhh!! those were the days when there was no congestion on Church Street.

An old photograph of the Cross in 1912,. This is evidence that the current steps were installed sometime prior to 1912