What is widely seen as the best-known building in Brigg is to refurbished in the run up to its double century.
Brigg Blog recalls a conversation a few years ago with Coun Rob Waltham, in the Angel Suite, when we asked the leader of North Lincolnshire Council about plans to mark the 200th anniversary of the Buttercross in 2019.
Many townsfolk will be pleased to learn that the landmark building in the Market Place will be looking its very best when this milestone is reached.
FROM SARAH HOWE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
An historic building that next year marks its 200 year anniversary, is to be refurbished as part of a £20,000 investment. The Buttercross in Brigg – home to North Lincolnshire Council’s Tourist Information Centre, will receive an external make-over to preserve and maintain the building.
The work will see the damaged weather vane on the clock tower repaired and reinstated – a key part of the building. Also, worn timbers will be replaced, and the outside paintwork will be redone.
The weather vane was removed this year due to safety reasons – high winds caused a section of the south vane to break off from the clock tower.
Local contractor Townsend has been awarded the contract to carry out the work, having gone through a competitive tender process.
Work will start Monday 10 September 2018 and is expected to take around six weeks to complete.
Cllr Rob Waltham leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is a key investment to maintain this treasured building that plays an important part in Brigg’s heritage. Many visitors to the town comment on the significance of the Buttercross, it is an important building in centre of Brigg and this investment is a welcome boost to secure it for many years to come.”
“The work is necessary to ensure the building is properly maintained and while we repair the damaged weather vane, we are taking the opportunity to repaint and make other repairs that have resulted through general wear and tear of the building.
“The Buttercross will remain open throughout the work, so please don’t be put off by the scaffolding – the Tourist Information Centre will remain open to visitors.”
Paul Huntley, director of Townsend, said: "Townsend are very proud to be working alongside North Lincolnshire Council on this project and look forward to seeing the completed job. The Buttercross is a magnificent building and deserves to look its best. Our work will ensure it is preserved for many more years to come."
THE HISTORY OF BRIGG BUTTERCROSS
- Brigg Tourist Information Centre has operated from the town’s iconic Buttercross building since February 1991.
- The building was completed and opened in 1819 and was built by the Elwes family to provide a meeting place for local organisations.
- The stone paved ground floor was used as a market for the sale of butter, eggs and poultry.
- It was originally open to the elements but the ground floor was closed in when it was refurbished as part of the Brigg regeneration scheme in 1991 and it reopened as the Tourist Information Centre.
- The centre has redeveloped into a showcase for customer care and high quality services for visitors and local residents alike, rising from its first year’s visitor figure of 17,000 to today’s 27,000 visitors.
2 comments:
For those who like a bit of off history...
A weather van is a decorative ornemention that one finds on tall buildings, but it has very little practical purpose
For exsmple, even without a weather vane one could easily tell from which direction the wind was blowing. ie plant movement, flags and even the feel of the wind.
A wind vane is more of a symbolic and ornamental struvture of times past.
For example, Henry Vlll put out an order that all church spires had to be surmounted by an ornamental cockerel...to remind folk of St Peter's 3 denials 'before the dock crowed.
This symbol developed into weather/wind van....and now the cockerel has been replaced by a variety of symbols...on the Buttercross it's an arrow...at the Lords Cricket ground, it's Old Father Time.
My spelling has gone haywire....I blame the predictive text thing...but with a little thought one should be able to work out what I intended to type..
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