Market Cross, Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle Market Cross (also known as the Butter Market or Break's Folley) is an octagonal construction in the market town of Barnard Castle, County Durham, England. It was built in 1747 by Thomas Breaks and is a Grade I listed building.^[1] It has had multiple uses including a courtroom, fire station, a gaol, a dairy market, a toll booth and a town hall.^[2][3]

Barnard Castle Market Cross
Butter Market
The market cross in 2016, with St Mary's Parish Church in the background
Location	Barnard Castle, County Durham, England
Coordinates	54.54222°N 1.92376°W / 54.54222; -1.92376
Built	1747; 278 years ago (1747)
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	Market Cross
Designated	24 February 1950
Reference no.	1201323
Location of Barnard Castle Market Cross in County Durham

The weather vane bears two holes, seemingly the result of musket shots being fired. A local legend tells of a match in 1804 between a soldier and gamekeeper to decide who was the better marksman. The soldier, named as Taylor of the Teesdale Volunteer Legion, and Cruddas, a gamekeeper from the Earl of Strathmore's estate at Streatlam, reputedly took aim at the weather vane from the doorway of the Turk's Head pub. Both men hit the mark.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  An 1893 view
• 
  Close up
• 
  From the arcaded shelter