(Vol. v., p. 511.)
It is stated in Gillingwater's _History of Bury St. Edmunds_, edition 1804,
that "The theatre, an elegant structure, originally the _Old Market Cross_,
was erected in the year 1780, from a design by Mr. Adams."
In Alexander Downing's _Plan of the ancient Borough of Bury St. Edmunds_,
published in 1740, there is a very good view of the old _Cross_. It appears
from this print to have been a fine old building; the lower part open. It
is possible that there might have been a chapel in the upper part of the
cross, as it appears in the print on Downing's map to have been three
stories high, with a bell turret or tower.
Downing's _Plan_ is not scarce: it is one large sheet, and is engraved by
W. C. Toms, sculpt.
In Thomas Warren's _Plan of Bury_, subsequently published, there is a view
of the _New_ Cross, with the theatre above it, as built in 1780.