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Hardingstone Eleanor Cross

Detail of the lower tier of Hardingstone Eleanor Cross with two of the heraldic shields associated with Eleanor, the arms of Ponthieu and England. Following her death in Harby on 28th November 1290, Queen Eleanor’s funeral cortège stopped overnight at the nearby Delapre Abbey en-route to Westminster Abbey. King Edward I erected a memorial cross at each of the 12 overnight stops, only three survive, at Geddington, Waltham and here at Hardingstone. The cross is much repaired and lost its top as early as 1460 but is still a marvellous example of late 13th century work. Of octagonal plan, it has the unique feature of an open book carved on four alternating sides of the lower tier.