Cross - Market cross

The National Monuments Service's description

The Friends of Medieval Dublin Map (1978) shows the former location of a cross near the eastern end of Bishop Street. This was formerly known as Butter Lane now Bishop Street. There are no visible surface remains (Bradley & King 1987 2, 149; FMD map (1978) 03, Clarke 2002, 12).
At the Common Pleas held at Dublin in 1326-7 before Thomas Fitz John, earl of Kildare, justiciary of Ireland, an Inquisition into the extent of the boundaries of Dublin City recorded that; 'the pasture which extends as far as St. Kevin's gate [DU018-020036-) and so by the way as far as Kilmerecaregan [Donnybrook area/Leeson Street area] and by the boundary of the land of Dovenachbrok [Donnybrook] as far as Dodir [Dodder]. And from the gate of St. Kevins church (DU018-020078-), by the way towards the north, so far as the stone cross [Butter Cross] where the old market was formerly, towards the west. Thence by the lane near the church of the Holy Sepulchre [DU018-020118-], going towards the north so far as an old lane, closed up, near the common of the vicars of St Patrick's church (DU018-020113-) extending as far as the street of that church' (CARD 1, 156-7). In 1603 the boundaries of Dublin City were described as from; 'the high way aforesaid [Dublin-Donnybrook Highway] at a shard uppon the west corner of the said Kilmakeregan [area between St. Stephen's Green and Donnybrook / possibly area around Leeson Street], and rode alongest that high way to St. Stephin's green, and tooke the sowth syde of the green...syde, to St Kevin's Gate [DU018-020036-], and torned in the lane norward, tyll they came to the east end of the Butter lane [Great Boater Lane], which was broken, and they entred therat; and in that lane lyeth an ould cross of stone, and it was said that crosse was called the Butter Crosse, for that in ould tyme the provision of butter that came from the marches and Tooles' country to Dublin was sould ther' (CARD 1, 193).

See attached Friends of Medieval Dublin 1978 map showing possible site of the 'Butter Cross/Market' and a town gate on Digges Street Upper (Clarke 2002).

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 29 November 2022

References

Clarke, H.B. (ed.) 2002 Dublin, Part 1, to 1610. Irish Historic Towns Atlas, No. 11. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Clarke, H.B. 1978 Dublin c. 840 - c. 1540: the medieval town in the modern city. Dublin.

Bradley, J. & King, H. (1988) Urban Archaeological Survey, Dublin, Volume 4. A report commissioned by the Office of Public works (Unpublished).

Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin: In the Possession of the Municipal Corporation of that City.