The Tranmere Cross – A One Shot Story

Local history has long been a fascination of mine and there is plenty of it around Merseyside where I have always lived. On the Wirral side of the River Mersey history can be traced back to Norwegian Viking settlers in 902 and the foundation in 1150 of Birkenhead Priory. The priory monks brought us the first regulated ferry across the Mersey service after they were granted rights by Edward II in 1318. There are still well preserved Grade I ruins on the site today.

However, this one shot story is about something I discovered not too far from my home.

It is a 15th century cross or rather what remains of it, the standing column. An authority on medieval masonry has authenticated the column as part of a medieval cross. What happened to the rest of it is unknown.

I have yet to check this out but I’ve read that close scrutiny of the stone work reveals carvings of gargoyles which in medieval times would ward off evil spirits. Surprisingly the cross hasn’t been tagged with graffiti so maybe those gargoyles are still at work.

There doesn’t appear to be any information as to the original site of the cross but prior to its disappearance in 1862 it marked the entrance to the village of Tranmere on Church Street.

After being missing for some 73 years the cross was re-discovered outside Tranmere New Hall in May 1935.
In October 1937 it was re-erected in Victoria Park Tranmere where it stands today.

When I decided to use the picture for this article I was surprised to find it is one of the very rare shots I have taken using a phone. An old Apple iPhone 5s to be precise.
I think the site is worthy a revisit with a wider angle lens so that one can navigate the surrounding railings.

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