KEPWICK CROSS

Grid Ref. 469918

An unnamed cross base lying at the side of a garden wall. The cross was marked on old maps as being in a field adjoining known as Cross Field (perhaps it was moved to prevent obstruction of farm machinery).

KIRKBYMOORSIDE CROSS

Grid Ref. 697866

A market cross, the original market having been larger but it was encroached upon by buildings, so now it is hidden in a small square. A large four stepped plinth has a small circular base mounted on top.

LADY CROSS

Grid Ref. 815083

The shaft is an 18th century waymarker inscribed GUIS. ROAD 1771 on the North face and WHITBY ROAD on the West face, with some indecipherable words on the South face. It stands on the grass verge of the Whitby to Guisborough road north of Egton village.

LILLA CROSS

Grid Ref. 889986

This is the oldest of the crosses and marks the spot where Lilla, the faithful servant of Edwin, King of Northumbria, is interred. In 626 Lilla gave his life by interposing his body between the king and an assassin's two-edged poisoned dagger. Lilla was the chief minister of Edwin of Deira. The attack took place at either Malton or Aldby-by-Buttercrambe. The story is described by Bede in his "History of England, Church and People written in 731. Why the corpse should have been brought from Goodmanham on the Wolds is not clear. Goodmanham was where King Edwin sat in council with his chieftains, when Paulinus, who came from Canterbury with Edwin's queen, pleaded that the king accept christianity and give up his pagan gods. The 1920s excavation of the Howe found jewelry. This was identified as Saxon but was exhibited as Anglo-Danish at the York Viking exhibition, i.e. 300 years after Lilla. On the south east face of the cross is the Cholmley Estate mark C, with the Maltese Cross below, and on the north west face G for Goathland. This is said to be the oldest Christian monument in the North of England. The original cross was erected on the Moors between Pickering and Robin Hood's Bay and was re-set in 1933 by the North Riding County Council. In 1952 it was removed by the Royal Engineers to avoid destruction by gunfire from their artillery ranges. It was re-set at its present position in 1962 by 508 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Territorial Army of Hordon, in conjunction with Whitby Rural District Council. A Sandsendman, Graham Leach, arranged the event. A special cradle was made to transport the cross to Horden, where 1½ tons of unwanted concrete were removed before the cross was re-sited.

LOW CROSS (APPLETON-LE-MOORS)

Grid Ref. 734881 

A large flat slab with a square hole inside. It was once on a medieval base but is now set in a cobbled base. This is the only uncut stone on the Moors to be referred to as a cross. It is shown on the 1853 O.S. map as Little Cross. Both it and High Cross are mentioned in medieval charters and documents between 1160 and 1500. Like High Cross, it may have been on the road to, and have been associated with, the Saxon monastery at Lastingham. A regular indentation on it may have borne a plaque. It was said that if one looked through its hole one could see High Cross and Ainhowe Cross aligned, but a house now obstructs the view.

MALO CROSS

Grid Ref. 866949

Lies at the foot of Whinney Nab (not at the top as might be expected). Two crosses were mentioned on the Nab in the Pickering Forest records of 1317, Williams at 931882 and Jinglebee, which may have given its name to Cross Cliff east of Malo. For 50 years the cross disappeared but was returned in 1924, having been found in a garden in Pickering. It is named after the de Mauley family of Musgrave Castle. On the crosshead is inscribed:-  

In the 1619 records of the Duchy of Lancaster are details of a cross erected near Whinney Nab in the Tabular Hills, in connection with an alleged violation of the laws governing the royal deer of Pickering. It states that in the years 1619 and 1621 various matters, including charge of trespass and encroachment, were submitted for consideration of the jury, who found "that Sir Richard Egerton Kt. hath made divers enclosures about Blackhowe, being in the heart of the forest, and hath set up, or caused to be set up on Whynny Neb, new boundary stones with a cross...". 

MAULEY CROSS 

Grid Ref. 795943

This is one of the best preserved of the crosses on the Moors. As it is close to the Roman road it may have replaced an earlier Roman milestone at the junction with the medieval Brown Howe Road. Just off the latter, and about a mile away, a cross once stood near the unexcavated Brown Howe. The cross is named after the Mauley family of Musgrave Castle. Peter de Mauley was the first to obtain Mulgrave Castle, in 1214, through marriage. The cross probably marked the limits of grazing rights, the family being known as notorious poachers. Though now surrounded by Forestry Commission plantations, the cross would originally have stood in open moorland.

OLD RALPH CROSS

Grid Ref. 675020

It stands on the highest point on Blakey Ridge. A cross in this vicinity is mentioned in the Guisborough Charters of 1200 as Crucem Radulphi. It may have been named after Bishop Ralph of Guisborough Priory, a relation of de Brus of Danby, and who in 1200 was given extensive grazing rights in this area. It is also claimed to be named after "Aud Ralph of Rosedale", who helped with the livestock and building jobs at the Priory. It may be 11th century and is some 6ft high. On the base is an elegant R, while on the cross piece is C. D. (Charles Duncombe), and below is 1708. It stands at the divides of Esklets, Westerdale, and Rosedale. At the top is a cup for coins.

OSMOTHERLEY CROSS

Grid Ref. 456972

The cross stands on a substantial base on a two stepped plinth in the village centre, where once was the market place. The shaft is 7ft high, square in section and tapering to a point at the top, making it a true obelisk. The original shaft is not far away, outside Thompson's shop, having been placed there by the grandfather of the present owner, after it had fallen from the base. There is a stone slab, on short stone legs, alongside the cross. This is known as the butter table, butter being sold from it. It was also used as a funeral table, coffins being rested on it during funerals. John Wesley visited Osmotherley about 16 times, and first preached at the village cross, using the butter table as a pulpit.

PERCY CROSS

Grid Ref. 606118