PROPOSED works at the Buttercross in Winchester have taken a step forward.
After years of discussions with Historic England, Winchester City Council has received formal scheduled monument consent for cleaning and repairs to the monument, in the High Street.
Permission was granted after the submission of a specialist-commissioned report by Philip Hugh and Associates to ensure the sensitivity of the repair programme.
The proposed works include stonework repairs, the removal of moss and ingrained dirt, and the installation of humane pigeon deterrents.
The process of selecting a suitable contractor has begun and it is expected that work will commence next year.
Believed to have been commissioned by Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester from 1404 to 1447, the Buttercross is a holy cross – although, following its construction, the monument also served as a market cross and butter, cheese and eggs were sold from the steps that surround it.
Winchester City Council’s cabinet member for business and culture, Cllr Lucille Thompson, said: “This is great news for the city’s historic Buttercross, which has been a treasured landmark in Winchester’s city centre for hundreds of years. These important works will take care to both conserve it and to protect it for years to come.”
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