Golden Cross, Oxford facts for kids
The Golden Cross from the Cornmarket Street entrance
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| Location | Oxford, England |
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| Coordinates | 51°45′09″N 1°15′27″W / 51.7524°N 1.2575°W |
| Opening date | 1987 |
| Architect | Dunthorne Parker Architects |
The Golden Cross is a historic building in the center of Oxford, England. You can find it on Cornmarket Street, one of Oxford's main shopping areas. This special place is now a shopping arcade, which is like a covered walkway with shops. It also has a restaurant and leads to the famous Covered Market.
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A Glimpse into Golden Cross History
The Golden Cross has a very long and interesting past. The first building on this spot was built way back in 1193! It was known as Maugershall then, named after its owner. At that time, it had shops on the ground floor and an inn upstairs.
From Inn to Shopping Spot
The buildings you see today were mostly built in the late 1400s. Back then, it was a busy coaching inn. This means it was a place where horse-drawn coaches would stop. Travelers could rest, eat, and stay the night. Its design still shows clues of its past as an inn.
Today, the Golden Cross courtyard is a lively path. It connects Cornmarket Street to the Covered Market. You can find different shops here, like iGlasses Opticians, Holland and Barrett, and a Chinese herbalist. There's also a Pizza Express restaurant inside.
Did Shakespeare Visit Golden Cross?
There's a cool story that links the Golden Cross to the famous writer William Shakespeare. His acting group was known to perform in Oxford. The road from his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, to London passed right through Oxford.
It's thought that Shakespeare's play Hamlet might have been performed in the inn's courtyard. Plus, some people believe a signature on a wall in a nearby building belongs to him! This makes the Golden Cross an exciting place for history fans.
Golden Cross's Modern Makeover
In 1986 and 1987, the Golden Cross buildings got a big update. A company called Cordwell Property and architects from Dunthorne Parker Architects carefully restored them. They turned the old inn into the shops and restaurants you see today.
Connecting to the Covered Market
During this restoration, a new path was created. This path made it easy to walk directly from Cornmarket Street through the Golden Cross to the Covered Market. The Covered Market was built in 1774. Before this update, there wasn't a direct way to get there from the main street.
Historic Details to Discover
The Golden Cross still has many original features from the 15th century. You can see old timberwork inside the buildings. There are also examples of old wall paintings and hand-painted wallpaper. You can often see these historic details if you visit the pizza restaurant on the upper floors.
The famous poet Alexander Pope even stayed here in 1735!
