Gone Medieval – "The Eleanor Crosses" (Jan 20, 2026)

Host: Dr. Eleanor Janega (History Hit)
Guest: Alice Loxton, historian and author
Episode Focus: The story, meaning, and legacy of the Eleanor Crosses—twelve lavish monuments commissioned by Edward I in memory of Eleanor of Castile. This episode follows Loxton’s journey retracing the 200-mile funeral procession route and discusses the personal, political, and architectural significance of the crosses.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode explores the remarkable history of the Eleanor Crosses, elaborate monuments commissioned in the wake of Queen Eleanor of Castile's death in 1290 by her devoted husband, Edward I. Through on-location visits and expert discussion, it unpacks the emotional, cultural, and historical resonance of these crosses, blending storytelling about royal grief, medieval logistics, public memory, and the enduring visibility of these monuments in Britain's landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: What Are the Eleanor Crosses?

• [02:56] The host describes standing at Charing Cross Station, gazing up at the Victorian replica of the lost medieval cross and situating it at the heart of London.
  • "This towering 70-foot tall monument marks the climax of a story that began on a November night in 1290, when a brokenhearted king resolved to make sure his beloved and newly departed queen would never be forgotten." (Host, 03:09)
• There were originally twelve "Eleanor Crosses," placed where Queen Eleanor's funeral procession stopped each night between Lincoln and London.

2. Eleanor’s Final Journey & the Royal Grief

• [07:01] Eleanor died at 49 in 1290, and Edward I, to whom she was married for 36 years, was devastated.
  • The host and Loxton emphasize that this was a genuine love match, unusual for medieval royal marriages.
  • Memorable moment: "If you really strip it back from who Edward was as king and who Eleanor was...these are just two figures over 700 years ago, who are feeling this very raw human emotion." (Alice Loxton, 17:06)

3. Logistics of a Medieval Royal Funeral

• [11:43] Dr. Eleanor Janega explains the immense challenge of transporting Eleanor’s body in winter without modern preservation.
  • Embalming methods of the period are described, including ceremonial burial of organs and use of spices.
  • "Compared to the 21st century, medieval embalming practices were crude, but they were increasingly sophisticated. By the late 13th century, the process began with evisceration..." (Dr. Janega, 11:46)

4. Retracing the Route: Walking in Eleanor’s Footsteps

• [08:45] Alice Loxton discusses why she walked the entire 200-mile route and how experiential history deepens understanding.
  • "By walking and traveling, I suppose at the natural human pace, it really does slow you down and it makes you think about all these things you perhaps never would..." (Alice Loxton, 10:26)
• Practical challenges bring insights into medieval life: "When you’re walking through loads and loads of mud, how on earth did medieval people do it?" (Loxton, 10:26)

5. The Surviving Crosses: Geddington & Hardingstone

Geddington Cross

• [13:36–15:39] The hosts visit the best-preserved Eleanor Cross in Geddington. Loxton describes:
  • Its structure: "A very elegant monument...seven steps at the bottom, narrow, triangular stone, quite ornately decorated...three beautiful statues of Eleanor herself." (Loxton, 14:40)
  • It stands at a crossroads—possibly why "cross" is in the name.

Hardingstone Cross (Northampton)

• [29:46–34:17] Loxton and the host discuss contrasts to Geddington:
  • "It’s quite chunky...the one in Geddington is balletic, this one’s much more chunky." (Loxton, 30:31)
  • It’s hexagonal, more elaborate, features graffiti, and sits next to modern suburban life.
  • On local memory: "People might be surprised that this amazing medieval cross is here...most people don’t think of Northampton as a medieval city, but it was hugely important." (Loxton, 36:41)

6. Eleanor’s Life and the Meaning of the Crosses

• Eleanor was a Spanish princess married young to Edward in a political match that became a rare, loving partnership.
• She gave birth 16 times; only 6 children survived—a poignant detail underscoring loss and grief.
  • "She gives birth, we think, 16 times, and only six of those survived to adulthood...in some ways for her, probably the defining experience of her life. The loss of all these children." (Loxton, 17:06)
• The crosses are not just memorials—they are constant reminders of personal grief and public memory.

7. Symbolism, Destruction, and Survival

• Many crosses were destroyed during the English Civil War as symbols of Catholicism or royal power. Charing Cross’s obliteration is described, as well as its role as a navigational landmark:
  • "These have been potent symbols of Catholicism or royalism over the centuries, so much so that many of them were pulled down and destroyed in the Civil War in quite a violent way." (Loxton, 24:02)
• Rhymes from the period are recounted as testimony to their status in popular consciousness.

8. Cultural Impact, Cost, and Legacy

• The monuments went up quickly (within five years) and were very expensive (over £100 each in 13th-century money). Larger, later crosses (near London) were the costliest.
  • "Within five years they were all built, which I think is pretty impressive..." (Loxton, 38:50)
  • "A skilled craftsman in the 13th century...making maybe in a month, like three pounds..." (Host, 39:29)
• Edward may have been inspired by French memorial traditions, but did more and grander; the crosses formed a possible "route of royal memory" akin to later figures like Princess Diana.
  • "It reminded me...of the monuments to Princess Diana...you, as a mourner, are part of the monument itself..." (Loxton, 41:27)
• The Victorian period saw revivalist copies and imitations, including the Albert Memorial, styled after the Eleanor Crosses.

9. Modern Meaning and Endurance

• The tradition that the site of Charing Cross remains the notional center of London is discussed: "All measurements to London are still measured...to the site of Eleanor Cross." (Loxton, 45:10)
• The crosses link the deeply personal—Edward’s love and loss—to broad historical memory.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Experiencing Medieval History:

  • "By walking and traveling, I suppose at the natural human pace...it makes you think about all these things you perhaps never would."
    —Alice Loxton [10:26]

• On Royal Grief:

  • "If you really strip it back...these are just two figures over 700 years ago, who are feeling this very raw human emotion."
    —Alice Loxton [17:06]

• On Loss in Eleanor’s Life:

  • "She gives birth, we think, 16 times, and only six of those survived to adulthood."
    —Alice Loxton [17:06]

• On the Crosses' Destruction and Legacy:

  • "These have been potent symbols of Catholicism or royalism over the centuries, so much so that many...were pulled down and destroyed in the Civil War in quite a violent way."
    —Alice Loxton [24:02]

• On Love and Public Memory:

  • "Sometimes it’s the greatest expressions of royal power where we also see the most personal declarations of human love."
    —Podcast Host [53:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:56] – Introduction onsite at Charing Cross; setting the historic context
• [07:01] – Eleanor’s death, royal love story, and Edward’s grief
• [11:43] – Logistical and spiritual challenges of medieval embalming and funeral transport
• [13:36] – Arrival in Geddington, detailed description of cross and its significance
• [17:06] – Discussion of personal loss, grief, and meaning of the crosses
• [24:02] – Destruction of the London crosses and public symbolism
• [29:46] – Arrival in Northampton, comparison of crosses, architectural observations
• [38:50] – Financial investment and rapid construction of the monuments
• [41:27] – The crossing as public pilgrimage and continued legacy
• [43:41] – Final journey to London, embalming success, Victorian replicas, modern commemorations
• [49:15] – Reflections on the lesson of walking the route and the living, layered history of English landscapes
• [51:07] – Reference to accompanying documentary film and significance of Charing Cross as London’s symbolic center
• [53:14] – Reflections on love, memory, and medieval monuments' emotional depth

Episode Tone & Style

• Warm, conversational, and rich in poetic imagery.
• Blends historical detail with emotional insights and personal anecdotes (especially from Alice Loxton’s journey).
• Honest about the challenges of connecting modern experience with medieval reality, and enthusiastic about uncovering overlooked stories.

Conclusion

"The Eleanor Crosses" takes listeners on a multi-sensory journey down a medieval funeral route, illuminating a royal love story physically etched into the English landscape. The episode is both a meditation on love, loss, and memory, and a celebration of how history lives on in unexpected places—from village greens to motorway verges, from medieval effigies to modern city centers. The surviving Eleanor Crosses stand testament not only to Edward’s devotion, but to the enduring and very human need to be remembered and to remember.

"They remind us that behind the grand narratives of medieval politics, there's human relationships of profound depth and genuine emotion. Sometimes it’s the greatest expressions of royal power where we also see the most personal declarations of human love."
—Host, [53:14]