eleanor cross by peadar

eleanor cross

I've posted lots of food shots recently, so no market shot today. We went up to London and I noticed this monument which I have passed so many times in my life without really noticing it.

This is an 1865 homage to an "Eleanor Cross" that was originally erected near this spot in Central London in the 13th Century. There were originally 12 wooden (later stone carved) crosses that marked the nightly resting places of the body of Eleanor of Castille, wife of King Edward 1, as this was transported from Lincoln to London. Her funeral was celebrated at Westminster Abbey, where she is buried close to her father-in-law, Henry III. It is thought Edward wanted the crosses to remind passers-by of his late wife and provoke prayers for her soul. Some of the towns where she rested adopted "Cross" as part of their name, such as this one - Charing Cross.

This is now a busy central London rail terminus, close by Trafalgar Square, and I am not sure how many passers-by realise the history of the monument.

Thank you all for your lovely comments over the past few days, I really appreciate them all!
It's so great that you combine the history with the shot. Lovely! The monument certainly deserves to be noticed and known. That's the thing with your familiar surroundings, you rarely do pay attention to them. One of the reasons why I like to guide visiting foreign friends in my hometown is that in that way I get to see Turku through the eyes of a tourist! :)
October 6th, 2012  
Fabulous shot and thanks for the history too
October 6th, 2012  
Great structure and shot. Looks like a beautiful day to go to market!
October 6th, 2012  
Beautiful against the georgous blue sky
October 6th, 2012  
Marvelous shot! The monument is so lovely in the bright blue sky!
October 6th, 2012  
Awesome sky, looks lie one of your holiday photos! Thanks for the little slice of history to go with it too!
October 6th, 2012  
Goodness what a lovely sky..I think the camera makes us so much more aware of our surroundings!!
October 7th, 2012  
Beautiful photo Peter and really well composed.
October 7th, 2012  
great sky we are home now and miss the weather
October 7th, 2012  
@fintan Welcome back, Fintan!
October 7th, 2012  
Gorgeous!
October 8th, 2012  
Gorgeous
October 8th, 2012  
It's beautiful!
October 8th, 2012  
Do you know I read something about Charing Cross being derived from Chere Reine (maybe I read it at the station) - but Google has proved fruitless since. Glad I'm not going mad and lovely pic!
October 9th, 2012  
Nice
October 10th, 2012  
Great pov. I've walked past this on multiple occasions and not known. Thanks for the info :)
October 10th, 2012  
@dishaparekh176 Thanks for all of your comments today, Disha, appreciate them all. Welcome back!
October 10th, 2012  
As i was born a stone's throw away, yes, i do know it! Great shot.
October 12th, 2012  
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