Queen Eleanor Cross

The Queen Eleanor Memorial Cross, outside London Charing Cross Railway station, is a memorial to Eleanor of Castile (1241 – 1290). It is a replica of the original medieval Eleanor Cross which was located 300m away but destroyed in 1647 during the English Civil War. Twelve crosses were erected between 1291 and 1295 by King Edward I of England to mark the nightly resting places of Eleanor’s body from Nottinghamshire to Westminster Abbey, where she was buried. The replica cross at Charing Cross was built between 1864 and 1865 and was designed by Edward Middleton Barry, who also designed the railway station. Only three of the original crosses survive today at Geddington, Hardingstone, and Waltham Cross, with other locations retaining only fragments. The London cross is the most ornate and extravagant of the crosses, and marks the end of Eleanor’s final journey.

The monument was by sculptor Thomas Earp using Portland and Mansfield stone alongside Aberdeen granite for the plinth. The finials and some of the ornamental carvings are gilded. The octagonal Gothic tower has three distinct stages, culminating in a spire topped with a cross. Decorative shields on the lower panels are modelled after surviving Eleanor Crosses in Waltham and Northampton, with the coats of arms of England, León and Castile (Spain), and Ponthieu (France). Near the summit, eight crowned statues of Queen Eleanor are positioned—four depict her as a monarch holding an orb and sceptre, while on the other four she has Christian symbols. At the feet of each statue, angels kneel in worship.

The Cross was the Heritage At-Risk register in 2008 due to its deteriorating condition but was repaired enough to be removed from the register. The restoration project now includes specialist cleaning, stone repair and replacement, including a substitute sandstone for the Mansfield stone, repointing of open joints and possible re-gilding.

The wider works include lighting the Eleanor Cross, to create a landmark on the Strand and improve wayfinding after dark. The restoration is a first step towards reaching ambitions for the Charing Cross area, including pedestrianisation of the station forecourt, improved public transport interchange, reduction of carbon emissions and creating a pedestrian friendly area within central London.