The Cross, Chester, Cheshire, England

Only a short walk down St. Werbergh's Street from Chester Cathedral to Eastgate Street will bring you to The Cross. The Cross itself is the red sandstone pillar in the photo and was a centre of trading from 1407 to 1646, when Cromwell's forces knocked it down. It wasn't until 1975 that the monument was reinstated following years of hiding/storage though parts of it are still missing. In the background, some of the black and white medieval/Tudor style architecture that dominates Chester's rows can be seen. What you should never assume is that these buildings dated to times when oak-framed stone buildings roofed with Kerridge slate were the desirable residences in Cheshire. What muddies the historical waters is the Victorians' taste for such things and attaching ornate woodwork to what essentially could be red-brick built structures is more than achievable.