Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

Wych Cross, cf. la Wigge 1274Rental , Wygecrouche 1407Lewes Deeds , Wiggecrosse 1564DuLa , Witchcrosse 1579DuLa .One can only suggest that the piece of ground where Wych Cross later stood was originally so called from OE  wicg , 'steed,' later 'beast of burden, mare,' a very rare word. The reason for the name is not known. Local tradition associates it with a resting place of the body of the great bishop Richard de la Wych on its way to Chichester from Kent, but the early forms do not warrant this.