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TEVERSALL.—A writer of 1891 mentions that west of the porch is a fragment of sculptured stone, somewhat resembling the base of a cross, and probably of Norman workmanship.
THOROTON.—A visitor to the church in 1897 noted a piece of stone, built into the outside of the east wall, having interlaced or plaited ornament sculptured upon it, that he presumed to have once formed part of an early English cross. A later visitor, however, thought it a segment of an arch.
TUXFORD.— The miscellaneous collection of curiosities acquired by the late R. S. Wilson, of Tuxford Hall, included the remains of the local cross. Kelly's Directory for 1900 says:—"Remains of the market cross. . . . discovered during the course of excavations for the laying of gas mains, are now, 1899, being re-erected in the grounds of Tuxford Hall." Although this does not seem to specifically occur in the subsequent sale-catalogue, it may be mentioned that two unlocated items transpire therein, described as follows:—"No. 859, in Fossil Room. An old carved stone cross, with canopy niche, on octagonal base." "No. 915 (Garden.) Carved stone monumental column."
UPTON.—On Sanderson's county-map, 1861, is marked a Cross Hill, immediately to the north of the village of Upton.
WALKERINGHAM.—The earliest reference seems to be in the directory of 1832:— "Near the church is the base of an ancient cross." This is repeated in later directories, down to that of 1864, which mistakenly refers to the erection in the past tense. In this connection, it is noteworthy that a tradition as to a former demolition, or partial demolition, of the cross, and of the subsequent replacing of the stonework, said to have transpired in the incumbency of —. Miller, (1820-1855), long remained current. Inquiries and correspondence prosecuted during 1888, however, seems to indicate that the story arose out of the appropriation for utilitarian purposes of a single stone from the base (afterwards replaced), and from the circumstance that, in connection with an overhauling and reparation, bricks were used to make good deficiencies in the stonework. Moreover, a section has been at some bygone period cut away from one side of the base, next a property-wall, now about five feet distant. Possibly this was done to accommodate the village stocks, formerly standing there. The cross consists of three circular steps, a massive plinth, and a very few inches of the shaft.
WARSOP.—The river Meden separates this village in two divisions, respectively distinguished as Church Warsop and Market Warsop, the place having possessed the privilege of holding a market and fair at least as long since as the reign of Edward III. Although the fairs are still held, or were recently, the market became obsolete before 1663. The earliest evidence of a cross appears to be in the Sherwood Forest perambulation of 1505, when the boundary-line proceeded "from Pleasley, by the water of Meden, unto the town of Warsop, and so through the middle of the town of Warsop unto the cross there," etc. Corresponding allusions, in similar terms, occur in the perambulations of 1538, and of the early 17th century, but that of 1662 slightly deviates from the above line, and so fails to mention Warsop cross. A sketch in the village of Warsop, made in the year 1787 (now in the British Museum), if reliable, testifies there were then two stumps of crosses, each on a base of four or five steps; and one of them utilised as a lateral support for a maypole. No reference to crosses at Warsop transpires in the directory of 1832, and it is not known when they disappeared. In 1911 it was reported that the foundations of one of them had been met with during excavations in the town street, and that the attention of the Thoroton Society had been invited thereto.
WELLOW.—An undated terrier of the parsonage of Edwinstowe, printed in "Dukery Records," includes, under the heading of Wellow, a "Cross Green Close."
WESTON.—It is stated that an ancient cross-shaft here (presumably in the churchyard) is utilised to support a sundial.
WATNALL.—A list of field-names at Watnall Cantelupe, printed in the History of Greasley, 1901, includes "Crosslands."
WHATTON.—There was a grant of market and fair to this place in the reign of Edward III. Preserved in the north aisle of Whatton church are two sculptured stones: the upper one associated with Aslockton and the lower one with Whatton. The latter, described as apparently part of the base of a cross, and now broken in two, is stated to have been found underground, near the guide-post in Whatton, in 1887. Its identity is assumed with that mentioned in a Whatton will of 1578, as follows:— "To the repair of the highway between the Cross and the Parsonage, 5 shillings."
WHEATLEY, NORTH.—A church terrier of 1658 is stated to include the field-names, Cross Lands and Cross Doles.
WILLOUGHBY-ON-THE-WOLDS.— Apart
of course from the bird's-eye miniatures on
the old town-maps of Nottingham, the village-
cross of this place was the earliest to be pictorially represented in a
published book, being
depicted in Stukeley's "Itinerarium Curiosum," 1724, in association
with the following
interesting remarks:—"In Willughby town is
a handsome cross of one stone, five yards long.
In the time of the reforming rebellion the
soldiers had tied ropes about it, to pull it
down; but the vicar persuaded them to commute for some strong beer, having
made an
harangue to show the innocence thereof."
Stukeley's sketch shows a base of three circular steps, small square plinth,
a tall, tapering
square shaft (resembling the neighbouring one
of Upper Broughton), and complete original
capital minus the surmounting cross. It was
next noted by Throsby, about 1790, who
wrote:—"Here is a cross, with a long shaft,
plain, and without any inscription thereon,"
and afterwards by Laird, about 1813. "As a
work of art, and a monument of the piety of
our ancestors,'' says a modern writer, "it
existed down to the early part of the 19th
century, when it fell upon more evil times
than it had before experienced." Although
the directory of 1832 alludes to the cross as
though then standing (as likewise does Bailey's "Annals," 1856),
it is clear that this was consequent on misapprehension, for the directory
of 1844 states that it "was taken down twenty
years ago." In response to queries-made in
1884, the contemporary vicar wrote:—"I have
made inquiries respecting Willoughby Cross.
I think about 1819 or 1820 would be the date
when it was destroyed. An old man, aged 84,
who came to Willoughby in 1813, is pretty
sure that it was about six years afterwards;
and his wife, aged 81, is under the same impression ... I cannot
learn of any remains of it in existence, except the top of the pedestal,
which lies on the roadside, a few yards from where the cross stood." The
latter relic (a fragment of shaft in a plinth), still remains, at the corner
of the road to Widmerpool.
It may here be added that Stukeley, (who travelled along the Fosse) further says:— "When arrived over against Willughby on the wold on the right, Upper and Nether Broughton on the left, you find a tumulus on Willughby side of the road, famous among the country people. It is called Cross Hill; upon this they have an anniversary festival." The tumulus seems to be no longer traceable.
WINTHORPE.—The "History of Collingham, 1867," contains what seems to be the earliest reference, as follows:—"A small cross, near the centre of the village, has probably been removed thither from the churchyard." A sketch made in 1889 shows it as a fragment of shaft, embedded in a square plinth, raised on a foundation of brickwork, and standing over a well marked by a pump, the site being on the village-green. Although, evidently, not on its original site, it would appear that someone thought the relic worthy of preservation. In 1891, in response to an inquiry, the then curate-in-charge wrote:—"All that I can find out is that the fragment has been moved from the cross-roads (nearly in front of my present residence) to its present position on what is called 'The Hill,' in front of the almshouses, within the memory of the old people."
Worksop cross as was. |
Worksop cross as is. |
WORKSOP.— Perhaps the earliest extant documentary reference to Notts, crosses is that in Richard de Lovetot's confirmation (apparently about 1161) of the gift of lands made by his father to the Priory of Worksop, which included "the meadow and land by the bound of Kilton, from the water unto the way under the gallows, towards the south, and by the crosses which he himself, and William his son, erected with their own hands, unto the moor," etc. One historian suggests the above recorded personal labour may have represented an act of penance or humility.
The late Robert White, of Worksop, once said there was reason to believe a cross formerly stood in what is now called the Market Place, the right to hold a market and fair here having been granted by Edward I. Either that or the existing cross, in front of the Priory Gateway, was perhaps indicated in the allusion in the Register of Welbeck Abbey to the Cross at Worksop " which divided the Fee of the King and the Fee of the Lord of Wirksop and the Fee of Tikehull," etc. The parish-register, in 1656, specifically records, in one instance, the publication of banns of marriage "at the Market Cross, Worksop." The existing cross consists of five octagonal steps, one square one, a plinth, and a tapering octagonal shaft. The latter, several feet in height, is apparently complete, except for the loss of its head. An idealised engraving of the Priory Gateway published in 1778, treats the cross conventionally, and varies its features and details to quite unrecognisable extent. The earliest real representation of the cross appears to be that of Laird, 1813. In connection with the diverting of the public road through the Priory Gateway, about 1899, the cross was taken down, and rebuilt nearer the Gatehouse. It is said that the intervention of the Duke of Newcastle saved it from, destruction on this occasion.
It may be mentioned that the plan of the Church of England College at Worksop, published about 1889, includes, in accordance with mediaeval precedent, the feature of a cross, on steps, in front of the main entrance.
A Worksop newspaper, about 1902, reported that R. S. Wilson, of Tuxford Hall, had then recently acquired, very cheaply, "an obelisk erected to the memory of Victoria the Good and Great, for whon. Mr. Wilson cherished a great regard. Worksop readers will be familiar with this monument; which formerly, graced a garden in Carlton Road, and perpetuated the memory of Waterloo. They will be interested to know that the pedestal has been embellished by two lions' heads, which certainly improve an otherwise plain structure." In the Tuxford Hall sale catalogue, it is thus described:—"No. 925 (Garden): A stone monolith, 13 feet high, the base carved with lions' heads, and inscribed, 'Erected in memory of Lord Wellington's great victory in 1815.' "
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