The grade II* listed structure has a metre-square, 0.57-metre (1.9 ft) high dressed plinth made of two courses of rectangular gritstone blocks.

The legend, recorded in a family history published in 1645, says that when Sir William Bradshaigh, her husband, failed to return from the crusades she married a Welsh knight.

[3] In another version of the legend, recorded by Norris of Speke in 1564, the Welsh knight is named as Henry Teuther, Sir William is absent for seven years on pilgrimage rather than a crusade and the penance involving the cross is not mentioned.

On 1 November 1315,[5] Adam Banastre, Henry de Lea, and Sir William Bradshaigh rebelled against Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster in support of the king.

Rather than killing his wife's husband at Newton-le-Willows, it was Sir William Bradshaigh who was slain there on 16 August 1333 in a fight with members of the Radcliffe family.