Norham Village Cross

Norham village cross is thought to date, in part, from the Medieval period. The base is the oldest part while the columned shaft and pyramidal top dates from 1870. What makes the dating difficult for the layman is that the newer sections have weathered more than the older sections! In 1927 a weather vane was gifted by Mr Thomas Thorpe, to be installed on the top, and depicts a salmon which was a vital part of the local economy.

Norham was actually given its market charter in 1180, making it one of the first Northumbrian villages to get one. In 1293 it was gifted a charter to hold a fair. It is likely that the original cross was lost during the centuries but the 6 stone steps would have formed that original base. The steps would have been where traders would have sat and displayed their wares and it would have provided a location for Town Criers or Preachers to speak.

The Victorian shaft and top section are quite ornate and reflect the style of that period. The shaft is made of four columns clustered together to make a whole, with four conical tops then coming together to form a single pyramidal top with the weather vane at its peak. The cross would have traditionally marked the centre of the village and been a focal point of village life and this is still the case in Norham. While the need for Town Criers has receded with the advent of newspapers and the internet, the cross and village green are still the focus of village celebrations.