| Parish/District | Haxey/North Lincs |
| Location | at the junction of High Street, Low Street and Haxey Lane |
| Category | Market cross (Butter cross) |
| National Grid Ref | SK 77420 99722 |
| Designation | Scheduled / Listed II |
| Stone type | Limestone (on modern brick base) |
| Refs | Davies, D. S., 1915, Lincs N & Q, Vol XIII No.5, pp149-152 |
| Visits | DS/HH: 4 June 2008 |
This is one of three surviving crosses in Haxey which appears to be a market cross – it is sometimes known as ‘the Buttercross’ although there does not appear to be a market charter for Haxey. It is probably at the centre of what was the market place, although, sadly, this means it has now become a rather dismal traffic island – recently with protective iron bollards set around it.
The cross has two well-worn limestone steps. The lower one comprises four massive slabs to form a step 1.73m square and c.0.28m high. On it, is set the second step – a single slab 1 m square by c.0.32m high – The cross base is set upon this – It is c. 0.5m square and c.0.5m high with a very deep socket which looks as if it has been modified (deepened and rounded into a bowl) for some secondary use. Although much worn, it is clear that the square base is chamfered to octagonal. It has been fitted (pre-20thC) with four robust iron straps (three survive) apparently to hold it in place. The whole edifice is set on a plinth of three courses of red bricks – Whilst this looks very odd, historical photographs all show the cross set on a brick base – a much taller one of seven courses of bricks (see photos). The scheduling description erroneously talks of a surviving shaft section (which is actually the socket stone).
The Haxey Hood game (held annually, 6 January) now ends at this stone cross, although this is a fairly modern addition to the tradition.
