Lilla Cross, Medieval stone cross on Fylingdales Moor, England
Lilla Cross is a medieval stone cross on Fylingdales Moor standing about 10 feet high atop an ancient mound. Its surface bears carved letters including a prominent 'C' and thin lines marking out a cross shape.
The cross dates to medieval times and was temporarily moved to a nearby location near Goathland in 1952. It returned to its original site in 1962.
The monument commemorates Lilla, chief minister to King Edwin of Northumbria, who gave his life protecting the king from assassination. Local people in the surrounding villages know this story and regard the site as a symbol of loyalty and sacrifice.
The cross can be reached by following two main moorland footpaths that intersect at this location between Pickering and Whitby. It helps to wear sturdy footwear since the moorland terrain is uneven and often damp.
Excavations in the 1920s around the ancient mound beneath the cross uncovered jewelry from the mid-ninth century. These findings reveal that the location held importance long before the cross was erected.
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