By far the most important pre-Conquest monument in Notts. A large shaft 10ft high, decorated with interlace and a human figure at the top of one side. May be as late as 1050. Base and top renewed in 1820. (1)
For many years the cross shaft lay neglected in the churchyard and its head disappeared, but in 1760 it was set up at the road junction to the SE of the churchyard... In 1820 it was protected by being set on a square-built base, and the present square cap surmounted by a ball was provided. It was moved to its present setting in 1928. (3)
The cross formerly at SK 4891 3732 was moved to above grid ref in 1929. (4)
Detailed description of decoration. (5)
This is a pre-Norman cross shaft not later than C9 with a carving of St Luke on one side and conventional decoration on the other. It is in the public street of what is now a busy urban district. The conditon is good but further safeguaring is necessary. (6)
A shaft of millstone grit c 3.5m high; square in section but with rounded corners which gives appearance of being cylindrical except at the top which has 4 faces. On one face is a figure and winged eagle which may be the emblem of St Luke ... on the other faces is interlaced decoration. Below are 2 broad bands of ornaments, part shaped scrollwork and part strapwork. (7)
See M381 for church.

The shaft is now 10 feet in height; it belongs unmistakably to the round-shaft family because the lower portion has rounded edges and the upper portion is square-sectioned and shows the characteristic slices. The shaft, however, is zoned, and the two principal belts are covered with a close-woven mesh of complicated interlace of varied patterns. Another peculiarity is that on one of the facets of the sliced portion there is a grotesque and flattened spindle-legged angel, and another unusual feature is that the sunken spaces of the slices do not run up into the cross-head but are treated as ornamental panels. It is obvious that this shaft has been decorated ... in a distinctly Mercian manner, and it seems to me to reflect the taste for a crowded display of finicky decoration that is illustrated by the earlier Wolverhampton pillar, and to perpetuate the finely woven Anglian interlace to be seen on the Brunswick Casket and the Witham Pins". ("Late Saxon and Viking Art" 1949, pp 71-2 Plate XLVI (T.D. Kendrick)) "Stapleford ... Cross in the churchyard. By far the most important pre-conquest monument in Notts. A large shaft with base and top, renewed in 1820 ... The date may be as late as C.1050". ("Buildings of England-Notts" 1951, p.175 photo (N. Pevsner)) "For many years the cross-shaft lay neglected in the churchyard and its head disappeared, but in 1760 it was set up at the road junction to the south-east of the churchyard [This agrees with the siting in 1] ... In 1820 [it] was protected by being set up on a square-built base, and the present square cap surmounted by a ball was provided.. It was moved to its present setting in 1928". (Trans. Thoroton Soc. Vol.49, 1945, p.10, photos. (J.H.Walker)) The cross is as described above save that the 19th C. ball finial has not survived. Stapleford Anglo-Saxon Cross. Grade I (full account in Listed Buildings volume). (DOE (Listed Buildings), Dist of Broxtowe, Notts, 14-4-87, 15) (8)

Listed buildings slides, 6 slides (Photograph). SNT2648.

<0> Thoroton Society, 1906, TTS, vol 10, p 23-5 (Published document). SNT333.

<0> Pevsner N, 1979, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire 2nd ed., p 336 (Monograph). SNT4.

Other Refs: fig 4

<1> Pevsner N, 1951, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire, p 175 (Monograph). SNT49.

<2> Mee A, 1938, The King's England: Nottinghamshire, p 278 (Published document). SNT914.

<3> Thoroton Society, 1945, TTS, pp 1-11 (Published document). SNT361.

<4> Heighs E, Anderson E, 1955, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT759.

<5> Kendrick TD, 1949, Late Saxon and Viking Art, pp 71-2 (Published document). SNT856.

<6> MOW, 819 (Published document). SNT929.

<7> Samuels JR, 1986, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT1231.

<8> Historic England, 2021, National Record of Historic Environment (Digital archive). SNT5271.