High Cross, Truro

Not to be confused with High Cross, Constantine.

High Cross

High Cross is the name of a cobbled plaza in Truro, Cornwall, England, UK, in front of the west face of Truro Cathedral. It is at the junction of Pydar Street, King Street, and St Mary's Street.

The plaza is extensively dotted with floral hanging baskets during the summer and is the site of Truro's Christmas tree during the festive season.

One building on High Cross has certain significance; the Georgian Assembly Rooms building, now a bakery, was built in 1780 and was the centre of Truro's high society, containing the Old Assembly Halls and also a theater. There are two busts above the first floor windows, one of the actor and theatrical producer David Garrick, and the other of William Shakespeare.

At the edge of the square near Pydar Street, there is an ancient Celtic cross, unearthed during a development project in the city. A cross in Truro was mentioned in a document of 1290. In 1958 during excavations in St Nicholas Street the upper section of a stone cross was found and placed next to the museum. In 1981 it was erected outside the Marks and Spencer store. After it had been extended with a piece of Hantergantick granite it was re-erected at High Cross in 1988 and dedicated in 1992. It is likely that the cross originally at High Cross was a Gothic latin cross and that this cross was originally a simple wayside cross.

The cobbles in High Cross were concreted over when Queen Elizabeth II visited the city in the 1970s, and they were restored afterwards.

A multi-storey car park nearby has the name "High Cross".

Gallery

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  The Assembly Rooms building
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  The ancient Celtic cross opposite the Cathedral