The village cross is grade II* listed stands on a roundabout in the center of the village. It is a memorial to Mary Watts- Russell who had inherited Ilam hall from her father, David Pike Watts. Mary had married Jessie Russell, Russell, high sheriff of Staffordshire in 1819, they had a new hall built between 1821-26. In the 1930’s the hall was sold for demolition which was underway when Sir Robert McDougal bought it for the National Trust on the understanding that the remains, (entrance porch and hall, great hall and service wing be used as a youth hostel.
It was Jesse Russel who was responsible for the Swiss look of the village, building new cottages to rehouse most villages who were living in estate owned houses
