Crews have started a two-week program of repairs on Malmesbury’s 15th-century Market Cross, a Grade I-listed landmark in Wiltshire. Work began July 27, with a scope focused on keeping the historic stone structure sound and weather-tight.
The project includes renewed lead flashings, repointing of mortar joints, repairs to the cross’s buttresses, and moss removal. The finials will also be inspected for damage.
Deputy Mayor Karen Drake said the Market Cross, built in 1490, is “much admired by visitors” and that the town takes its preservation responsibilities seriously. She added that consent has been granted to continue phased work on the structure.
The work is budgeted at £20,000. The town said the repairs will not require nearby road closures, and local businesses have been notified in advance.
Minerva, a stonemasonry firm that has previously worked on the monument, was selected again because of its familiarity with the structure. For mason contractors who take on preservation and restoration work, that detail matters. Repeat access, good records from earlier phases, and knowledge of existing conditions can shape both the repair approach and the schedule on a one-of-a-kind historic site.
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