Lay Cross. (1)

The cross first stood at the cross roads where the parishes of Blidworth, Haywood Oaks, Farnsfield and Oxton meet. The name Lay cross may refer to it not being an eccleasiastical cross. (2)

The Lay Cross was an important boundary cross when on its original site. It marked not only the bounds of 5 parishes but also those of 2 hundreds and, after 1300, the bounds of Sherwood Forest. Lay is possibly a corruption of Lady Cross. The old base was removed from Rufford Road to Blidworth churchyard in 1836. (3)

See M5319 for remains of cross at Blidworth church, M2846 for alehouse near this spot.

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

<1> Chapman J, 1774, Nottinghamshire - approx 1in (Map). SNT550.

<2> Stapleton A, 1903, Notes on the Crosses of Nottingham Past and Present, pp 2- (Published document). SNT1326.

<3> Stapleton A, 1911, More Notes on the Crosses of Notts, p 177 (Published document). SNT1325.