Monument record 1519 - Wayside cross 500m north of Sutton End Farm

Wayside Cross, Clough Brook. Medieval. Red sandstone monolithic, roughly rectangular block 1.74 high. Cross in relief to upper part of both sides and OS bench mark to base of eastern side (1).

In this township, on the edge of Wildboarclough, is an upright, rough, unhewn flat stone, having a cross within a circle at the top, and known as “Cross o’ th’ moor”, or Greenway Cross. It is said to have been used as a plague stone, where the townspeople left their money and the country people left provisions during the time that the plague raged in Macclesfield, but its distance from the town renders this improbable.(2).

Cross stands on grass verge beside a minor road. About 1.91m high with plain cross. No inscription (3).

The cross is positioned at the point at which the road drops down into the plain, suggesting it may be a waymarker (5).

Description of cross in circa 1877 (8).

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /7/56 (Report). SCH1934.

<2> Earwaker, J P, 1877-1880, East Cheshire Past & Present, Vol.2 p.449 (Book). SCH1080.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), /no.63 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), /no.63 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ96NE8/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, 1988 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.204 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> Anon, various, Minutes of the Macclesfield Scientific Society, p.23 (Book). SCH2198.