Cleaning and repair works planned for two beloved Winchester Monuments
Winchester City Council is planning repairs and cleaning works for two of Winchester’s most important historic structures.
Works are currently being devised to repair areas of damaged stonework on the much-loved Buttercross monument on Winchester High Street, with plans also in place to remove moss and ingrained dirt and install humane pigeon deterrents.
Plans are also being drawn up for repairs and cleaning at Hyde Abbey Gateway, along with the installation of further pigeon deterrents.
The council also hopes to replace existing lighting within the gateway’s arch, as well as replacing hard-standing with paving and installing new seating and interpretation panels to explain the building’s history to visitors.
As the Buttercross is a scheduled monument, specialist historic building consultants were commissioned to ensure a sensitive programme of cleaning and repair was proposed. Additionally, the council will first need to seek permission from Historic England, and it is in the process of preparing a detailed set of proposals for approval.
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 due to the selling of butter, cheese and eggs from the steps that surround it.
Hyde Abbey Gateway, thought to date to the 15th-Century, is one of the few remaining standing structures from the ancient Hyde Abbey. It comprises a covered archway for carts, with a side pedestrian gate and a secure chamber on its south-eastern side.
Cllr Martin Tod, Leader of Winchester City Council said:
'It's great to see such detailed and sensitive plans for our city's historic monuments - our heritage is one of the things that make our city great and so it's right that we place importance on the care of these impressive landmarks'
Depending on necessary permissions and suitable weather conditions for these specialist works, the council hopes to begin work on both sites before the end of the year.
Read the full report by Philip Hugh and Associates.