Sandbach Crosses

Sandbach Crosses stand in the cobbled market square, their sandstone shafts covered with animals, interlaced ornament and scenes from the Bible. Usually dated to the ninth century, the two monuments are among the most important surviving Anglo-Saxon high crosses. Their original location and purpose are uncertain, and they once carried painted decoration as well as carving. Broken into pieces in the seventeenth century, they were gathered together and re-erected in 1816. Look for the Nativity and Crucifixion on the larger cross, using the nearby interpretation to identify the weathered figures. Reviewers recommend taking time with these small panels, then pausing at one of the surrounding places to eat. Paid town-centre car parks are a short walk away, making this an accessible stop within a visit to Sandbach; expect cobbles around the monuments.