The cross was raised at some time after 1220 a.d., when Peter de Mauley obtained the Mulgrave estate by marrying into the de Turnham family. Other de Mauley boundary stones are Mauley Cross, north of Stape, and Brown Howe Cross (now in the Castle Museum, York).

Sir Richard Egerton, whose initials are on Malo Cross, was notorious in c.17th. for moving stones and claiming them for himself in order to snatch more land than he was entitled to.

We're not sure if the present site is the original position for the cross or not.