Harrinson Testimonial Cross

Summary

Commemorative cross, designed by Spencer Slingsby-Stallwood and erected in 1887.

Reasons for Designation

The Harrinson Testimonial Cross (also known as the Jubilee Cross), erected in 1887 in the Church of St Mary's Churchyard, Reading, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as a well-detailed, late-C19 memorial designed by the noted architect Spencer Slingsby-Stallwood, which contributes to the character of an architecturally varied historic streetscape.

Historic interest:

* as a testament to the philanthropic provision of public sculpture which has contributed to the historic urban development of Reading's ancient core.

Group value:

* the memorial is in close proximity to a large number of listed buildings, including the Grade I-listed Church of St Mary, and other listed monuments in the churchyard.

History

The crossroads formed by the north-south route of St Mary’s Butts/Bridge Street and the east-west route of Gun Street/Castle Street is believed to be the centre of the original Saxon settlement at Reading, established sometime before the ninth century, with the lowest crossing point of the River Kennet lying a short distance away to the south. Reading was well-established by the time of the Norman Conquest, and the Domesday Book (1086) records six mills and a large estate in the town. St Mary’s Church, which lies on the northeast corner of the crossroads and was mostly rebuilt in 1551-1555, was the town’s primary church until the establishment of Reading Abbey in the C12 and became so again following the dissolution in the late 1530s. The church and churchyard were extensively ‘restored’ and ‘improved’ during the late nineteenth century, with a row of buildings along the western side of the churchyard demolished to create the open relationship between the churchyard and St Mary’s Butts seen today.

The memorial cross in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary was designed by the Reading-based architect, Spencer Slingsby-Stallwood (1842/43-1922), and was erected in 1887, as a monument to jointly mark the completion of improvements to the churchyard and the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The cross was funded by local subscription to mark the significant donation by the local surgeon, Dr Isaac Harrinson (1810-1888), who paid for much of the improvement of the churchyard and for additions to the church. This work included the purchase and demolition of the row of dilapidated almshouses that stood on the western side of the churchyard and were subsequently replaced by the Vachel Almshouses on nearby Castle Street. The monument was unveiled on 19 December 1887, the year of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. As part of the Reading High Street Heritage Action Zone project the monument was restored during a series of works across March to June 2023 by Cliveden Conservation. It was rededicated on 11 October 2023 by the Vicar of Reading Minster.

Details

Commemorative cross, designed by Spencer Slingsby-Stallwood and erected in 1887. Restored in 2023.

MATERIALS: the monument is constructed of Portland stone with a lower base of red brick.

DESCRIPTION: the cross is designed in a Gothic Revival style. It comprises a tapering octagonal shaft with a crocketed and canopied pinnacle capped by a cross. Beneath the cross is a stepped, octagonal base, the uppermost part has floral carvings and bears the inscription: ‘By Thy Cross and Passion Good Lord Deliver Us’. The Gothic blind tracery which decorates the lower body features shields showing the arms of Harrinson, the Borough of Reading, the Diocese of Salisbury and the Diocese of Oxford. The lower part of the base comprises four octagonal plain steps. The restored western face of the top step reads: ‘Erected / by public subscription to record the munificence of / ISAAC HARRINSON Esq. / by which the improvements in St. Mary’s Butts / were brought to a successful completion / A. D. 1887 / The year of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria.’ On the step below is the faint outline of metal lettering, now lost, which originally read: ‘Architect - Mr S Slingsby Stallwood / Builders – Messers. Wheeler.’ Beneath the lowermost stone step are two courses of brickwork laid in header bond.

This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement on 17 April 2024 to amend details in the description

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

39159

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Bradley, S, Tyack, G, The Buildings of England: Berkshire, (2010), 438-440
Ditchfield, P H, Page, William, A History of the County of Berkshire Volume 3, (1923), 336-432
Gold, Sidney, A Biographical Dictionary of Architects at Reading, (1999), 184-187
Summers, M, Signs of the Times; Reading's Memorials, (), 63-67

End of official list entry

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