Q IS the Battle of Neville's Cross named after the suburb or vice versa? The leader of the English forces in 1346 was Sir Ralph Neville.

The County Council battlefield walk leaflet, issued for the 650th anniversary of the battle, said that after the battle, Sir Ralph erected a new cross to give thanks for the victory, the base of which can still be seen at the end of St Johns Road. That implies that there had been an older cross hereabouts.

We know that, in the Middle Ages, there was a series of crosses on the roads into the city, some say to mark the area in which sanctuary could be claimed. One of these was Charley's Cross which stood on South Road near the New Inn. But what was the name of Neville's Cross before the battle took place - Ian Forsyth, Durham

ATHE stump of the Neville's Cross still remains today outside the Neville's Cross Working mens Club, but most of the cross was destroyed in 1589, after the Neville family fell out of favour with the Crown.

There were seven steps leading to the cross and it was placed upon an octagonal shaft. Around the shaft were carved figures of the evangelists.

The cross was erected to commemorate the English victory in the Battle of Redhills as it was originally known, but it replaced an earlier cross that stood on the site. This cross was erected at the intersection of two roads - in other words at a crossroads and it was traditional for crosses to be erected at such intersections.

A similar structure called the Maiden's Arbour existed at the junction of the Sunderland Road and Sherburn Road to the east of the city but I am not certain whether this represented the limits of sanctuary.

The original Neville's Cross gave its name to the ancient street of Crossgate and subsequently to the suburbs of Crossgate Moor and Neville's Cross.

According to the 19th century Durham historian, Robert Surtees, the cross was called Neville's Cross prior to the time of the battle. The cross stands on the historic road to Brancepeth and this may be a clue to its name. Brancepeth Castle was one of the principal strongholds of the Neville family and the Nevilles would have travelled this road on their frequent visits to Durham.

It is possible that one of the earlier members of the Neville family may have provided funds for the erection of the earlier cross, as a symbol of sanctuary in Durham.

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Published:04/03/2003