£100,00 project aims to protect landmark at busy crossroads

The Butter Cross is thought to originate from medieval times, although it has only stood at its present site at the busy junction of Cross Street and High Street since the 19th century.

Changes in transport patterns over the years and the increase in larger vehicles passing through Monk Bretton have meant that the cross has suffered damage, as its current position makes it difficult for buses and large lorries to turn the corner.

Monk Bretton ward councillor Grace Brown said: “The cross needs to be saved, it’s a piece of our history.

“We’ve got one or two important pieces of history here in the Monk Bretton area, including Monk Bretton Priory. We’re very lucky.

“The cross has been suffering damage and we’ve wanted something doing about it for a long time.”

Various options to protect the monument were considered by Barnsley Council, which included moving the Butter Cross itself, widening the road or even closing the road junction at the top of High Street.

At a council Cabinet committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 16, councillors are set to agree proposals which will see a new protective island built around the cross, and the junction of High Street and Cross Street widened.

Plans drawn up by the authority involve buying part of a garden which belongs to a householder living at the corner of the two streets and also building the resident a new brick boundary wall with wrought iron railings, at a cost of £18,000.

The report written by council officers, which is set to go before Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, says: “A Butter Cross has existed at this location since at least 1855 and is thought to originate from monastic times.

“Its position, in the middle of the road junction, makes it difficult for large vehicles and buses to negotiate turning movements, sometimes resulting in damage to the cross.

“Very often, when no other vehicles are around, larger vehicles will pass on the wrong side of the road for ease of movement.”

Negotiations on ways to protect the monument began in July 2009 and funding arrangements were finalised in August last year.

Taking into consideration site clearance, roadworks and moving utilities such as electricity and telephone cables, the scheme will cost Barnsley Council a total of £106,000.

That money is set to come from sources including the South Yorkshire Community Foundation’s Fair Share Trust and English Heritage, as well as council coffers.

However, there is also some controversy over who should be paying for the work to be carried out.

Coun Brown said that the council’s own highways department should be paying for the roadworks and the Fair Share money could be spent elsewhere.

However, Barnsley Council is currently forced with having to make budget cuts of £20m in the next financial year and £46m over the next four years.

At a meeting last Thursday, councillors agreed next year’s budget, which will involve closing leisure centres and libraries and also making up to 226 compulsory redundancies.

Council leader Steve Houghton said: “This has been an incredibly difficult budget, with some damaging decisions having to be made.

“But this is only the beginning as next year we will have to find another £9m of cuts. Any possible efficiencies have now been made and further cuts would have an impact on services.”

Monks’ tale goes back to 1150s

MONKS are thought to have occupied Monk Bretton’s most famous landmark, the priory, since the 1150s.

It belonged to the French order of Cluny, whose monks followed the sixth-century Rule of St Benedict.

After the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII the priory became home to the Armyne and Talbot families. Monk Bretton Priory is now owned by Barnsley Council.