Gazetteer of
British Place Names

High Cross is a hamlet which lies at the crossroads of the Roman roads of Watling Street (A5) and the Fosse Way on the border between Leicestershire and Warwickshire. High Cross was the central cross roads of Anglo-Saxon and Roman Britain. It was also the site of a Romano-British settlement known as Venonae or Venonis, with an accompanying fort. The modern dual-carriageway of the A5 lies slightly to the south of the original route of the Fosse Way and the local government boundary is significantly different to the county border. Most of the hamlet, including High Cross Farm and those houses to the south of the old course of Watling Street, lie in Warwickshire. Several more recent houses lie to the north of the old course of Watling Street, in Leicestershire. A stone monument was built in 1712, funded the Earl of Denbigh, marking the centre of Roman Britain. It consisted of four Doric columns with an orb and cross above. This was located in the middle of the old course of Watling Street, on the county border. It was struck by lightning in 1791. The plinth remains today and now lies south of the old road, in Warwickshire. The hamlet is within the council area of Harborough (Leicestershire).

Place Type: Hamlet
Historic County: Warwickshire / Leicestershire
Lat, Long: 52.493746,-1.304982
Grid Reference: SP 4728 8865
Civil Parish: Sharnford CP
Council Area: Harborough CA (Leicestershire CA)
Police Area: Leicestershire PA

GBPN ID: 290981
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/High_Cross,_Warwickshire_290981

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