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The Market Cross, Ards is a post-medieval stone cross that stands in the village of Ards in County Down, Northern Ireland. Market crosses of this period typically served as focal points for community gatherings and trade, functioning as both practical meeting places and symbols of civic authority. The monument's location on Sherwood Sandstone Group bedrock—a geological formation of Ladinian age comprising sandstone, siltstone and mudstone—has shaped the local landscape and would have influenced the sourcing of building materials for the cross itself.
The cross is protected as a scheduled historical monument by the Historic Environment Division under reference 6372, recognising its significance to the cultural heritage of the Ards area. Its survival to the present day reflects the enduring importance of this site as a gathering place within the community. The sandy and silty subsoil of the area, whilst potentially presenting challenges for the foundation of a standing monument, has been sufficient to support this structure through centuries of use.
As a post-medieval market cross, the monument represents an important phase in the development of Ards as a trading settlement. The scale and permanence of such crosses typically indicate the economic and social status of the communities they served, marking their role in the commercial and administrative life of early modern Ulster.
The market cross, old cross. market cross is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 6372. View the official record →
The Market Cross, Ards is a post-medieval stone cross that stands in the village of Ards in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 6372.
The market cross, old cross. market cross dates from the post-med period, and is classified as a cross. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
The market cross, old cross. market cross is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 6372.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Motte (3.7 km), Stone and wooden fishtrap (5.6 km), Deserted settlement (6.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of The market cross, old cross. market cross's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
The market cross, old cross. market cross stands on Sherwood Sandstone Group, bedrock that formed in the Ladinian. The rock here is sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.