Eleanor Cross, Hardingstone, Northamptonshire - The plaque at the side of the cross reads as follows: This cross was erected in 1291-94. It is one of three surviving crosses from the twelve erected by Kind Edward I at the stopping places of the funeral cortege of his wife, Queen Eleanor, on its way from Lincoln to London. The design of the original top is unknown, the present broken shaft having been placed in position in 1840. The Northampton cross is still standing and is located at the edge of Delapr?Abbey, where the body rested overnight; the King stayed at nearby Northampton Castle. This cross was begun in 1291 by John of Battle; he worked with William of Ireland to carve the statues; William was paid ? 6s. 8d. per figure. The cross is octagonal in shape and set upon some steps - the present ones are replacements. The cross is built in three tiers and originally had a crowning terminal - possibly a cross. It is not known when this became lost. The Cross is referred to in Daniel Defoe's a "Tour through the whole island of Great Britain", where he reports on the Great Fire of Northampton in 1675, "...a townsman being at Queen's Cross upon a hill on the south side of the town, about two miles off, saw the fire at one end of the town then newly begun, and that before he could get to the town it was burning at the remotest end, opposite where he first saw it." Its bottom tier features open books. These probably included painted inscriptions of her biography and of prayers for her soul to be said by viewers, which are now lost. 咄ortean / TopFoto