Dating from the 14th century, the cross may have originally stood in an open market place (now built over) about 50 metres south-west of its current location. The cross would have been a prominent landmark in the small market town of Ludgershall, with its fine sculpture illustrating scenes from the resurrection of Jesus, and with the new cross perhaps paid for or supported by the royal patronage of Edward III (reigned 1327–77). King Edward III and Queen Philippa would have stayed in nearby Ludgershall Castle around this time and Ludgershall became an economically and culturally important small town in the region.

The cross was probably about 6 or 7 metres high, with a tall octagonal shaft rising from the (surviving) base, like the Beaumond Cross in Nottinghamshire. Many English towns had this sort of cross in the Middle Ages, situated in a market or prominent place, and acting as a focus for both religious processions and trade.

Most of these crosses were taken down or damaged during England’s Reformation in the 16th century or during the religious changes that accompanied the 17th-century Civil War.

South, west and north faces

The scene on the south panel, with a tall central figure standing between two smaller figures, has previously been identified as the Three Marys (Mary Magdalene and two other Marys, probably including Mary of Clopas but not necessarily including Jesus’ mother). It has been suggested^[1] that this is more convincingly identified as the ‘Road to Emmaus’ scene in which the resurrected Jesus (the taller figure) meets two disciples (the smaller figures either side) after his death.

The west face (facing the road) shows a cave-like structure occupied by four identical figures with their arms raised upwards. Outside the cave and facing them is a well-preserved figure who holds his right arm upwards, perhaps holding a rod or lance. This looks very much like a Harrowing of Hell scene, in which Jesus breaks open the gates of hell with a lance.

The scene on the north side of the cross (facing the castle) is particularly hard to identify, but perhaps depicts Jesus in an Ascension scene, as Christ rising to heaven.
   

_{Top image © Greg Balfour Evans/Alamy Stock Photo}