High Cross, Truro
{{Short description|Square in Truro, Cornwall, UK}}
{{Distinguish|High Cross, Constantine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{coord|50.2641|-5.0520|display=title}}
High Cross is a cobbled plaza in Truro, Cornwall, England, UK,{{cite web |title=Truro sweet shop returns to roots |url=https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/4733875.truro-sweet-shop-returns-to-roots/ |website=The Falmouth Packet |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=12 November 2009}} in front of the west face of Truro Cathedral.{{cite web |title=Pedestrians 'flee in panic' as car crashes near Truro Cathedral |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-47309285 |website=BBC |accessdate=1 April 2020 |date=20 February 2019}} It is at the junction of Pydar Street, King Street, and St Mary's Street.{{cite web |title=Truro Our Great Little City |url=https://www.visittruro.org.uk/sites/default/files/truro_tear_off_map_ver_2_0.pdf |website=Visit Truro |accessdate=1 April 2020 |format=Map}}
The plaza is extensively dotted with floral hanging baskets during the summer and is the site of Truro's Christmas tree during the festive season.
One building on High Cross has certain significance; the Georgian Assembly Rooms building, a Warrens Bakery store until March 2020,{{cite web |last1=Matthews |first1=Chris |title=Warrens Bakery to close another Cornish shop |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/warrens-bakery-close-another-cornish-3917965 |website=Cornwall Live |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=5 March 2020}} was built in 1789 and was the centre of Truro's high society, containing the Old Assembly Halls and also a theater.{{cite web |last1=Trewhela |first1=Lee |title=The fascinating stories behind 25 of Truro's most historic buildings |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/fascinating-stories-behind-25-truros-3890744 |website=Cornwall Live |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=12 March 2020}} There are two busts above the first floor windows, one of the actor and theatrical producer David Garrick, and the other of William Shakespeare.
The cobbles in High Cross were concreted over when Queen Elizabeth II visited the city in the 1970s, and they were restored afterwards.
A multi-storey car park nearby has the name "High Cross".{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=Philippa |title=Police cordon off Truro car park after man's body is discovered |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/police-cordon-truro-car-park-3224030 |website=Cornwall Live |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=18 August 2019}} The area has also been noted for its high number of anti-social behaviour incidents.{{cite web |last1=Smallcombe |first1=Mike |title=The worst areas for bad behaviour in Cornwall revealed |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/worst-areas-bad-behaviour-cornwall-3860738 |website=Cornwall Live |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=9 March 2020}}
Celtic cross
At the edge of the square near Pydar Street, there is an ancient, Grade II-listed Celtic cross,{{cite web |title=Standing cross at High Cross, 30m west of Truro Cathedral |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1020557 |website=Historic England |accessdate=1 April 2020 |date=24 July 2002}} unearthed during a development project in the city. A cross in Truro was mentioned in a document of 1290.{{cite web |last1=Trewhela |first1=Lee |title=Car smashed down monument dating back 700 years in crash which injured man outside Truro Cathedral |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/car-smashed-down-monument-dating-2566169 |website=Cornwall Live |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=20 February 2019}} In 1958 during excavations in St Nicholas Street the upper section of a stone cross was found and placed next to the museum.
In 1981 it was erected outside the Marks and Spencer store. After it had been extended with a piece of Hantergantick granite it was re-erected at High Cross in 1988 and dedicated in 1992. It is likely that the cross originally at High Cross was a Gothic Latin cross and that this cross was originally a simple wayside cross.Langdon, A. G. (2002) Stone Crosses in Mid Cornwall; 2nd ed. Federation of Old Cornwall Societies; p. 67 In February 2019, it was broken into four pieces after a car crashed into it.{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Matthew |title=Truro's High Cross is restored |url=https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/18147443.truros-high-cross-restored/ |website=The Falmouth Packet |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=9 January 2020}}{{cite web |title=900-year-old High Cross is back where it belongs in Truro |url=https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news-room/media-releases/news-from-2020/news-from-january-2020/900-year-old-high-cross-is-back-where-it-belongs-in-truro/ |website=Cornwall Council |accessdate=1 April 2020 |date=9 January 2020}} It was restored and, in December 2019, placed back at High Cross.{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=Gayle |title=Ancient cross back in rightful place after being smashed up in crash outside Truro Cathedral |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/ancient-cross-back-rightful-place-3719512 |website=Cornwall Live |accessdate=28 March 2020 |date=9 January 2020}}
Gallery
File:Truro Assembly Rooms.JPG|The Assembly Rooms building
File:HIGHX1.JPG|The ancient Celtic cross opposite the Cathedral
References
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