Sandbach Crosses

Sandbach  is a small, sleepy  town in Mid Cheshire and its name means sandy stream or valley.

In earlier centuries AD Cheshire was subject to attacks from Saxons, Vikings and Welsh but Sandbach was of sufficient significance to get an entry in Norman King William The Conqueror's Domesday Book of 1086 where it was known and spelt as Sandbec

The Crosses are believed to be of Saxon origins.

The Sandbach Crosses are  two highly decorated and sculpted Anglo-Saxon pillars which are believed to date from the early 800's. Standing  in the  market square  they are  large and carved pillars but do not look like crosses now . They are English Heritage  Grade I listed monuments. It is believed that they were brought to Sandbach in the Middle Ages.

 The crosses show Bible stories on each side. The "crosses"  are two perpendicular columns  on a base of three stone steps. They have no arms on them now. They seem to have always been a pair. It is not known who carved them .They show religious scenes including  The Nativity, Transfiguration and Crucifixion .

 Below,  a delightful Cheshire black and white cottage peeping through the background.

The carving above is believed to show saints and Mary.

It is believed that during the English Civil War they were ravaged by Cromwell's men. On the 3rd September 1651, during the Civil War,  opposing sides had an encounter on the town's common where the September fair was taking place. Scottish troops were retreating from the Battle of Worcester and met with Cromwell's men. The villagers were incensed that their crosses had been badly treated and set upon the soldiers.  

The pieces of the crosses though were scattered around Cheshire.

The carvings are still very beautiful and clear despite being over 1000 years old.

In the early 19th century the pieces  were collected together and in 1816 were rebuilt  at the instigation of Cheshire historian, George Ormerod.