WHEN WAS THE BRIGG BUTTERCROSS BELL LAST RUNG & WHY?

An original or early feature of Brigg Buttercross re-appeared in the town centre 15 years ago. The bell - once housed in a small tower near the clock - was presented to the town in 2005 by Brigg Rotary Club to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International.
Displayed on the plinth (pictured below) it was put on display near the front entrance to the landmark early 19th century building in the Market Place, and is still there today. 

The attractive colour painting above shows the bell in place circa 1900, and prompts several questions:

• When was it rung?
• When and why was it removed?
• How did Rotary acquire it?

Perhaps the Buttercross bell was originally tolled to mark the death of a king or queen, to proclaim a coronation or to celebrate victories in, and the end of, wars and military campaigns. However, we think its main purpose may have been to sound the hours, through a link to the nearby clock.
The Buttercross opened in 1819, but a quarter of a century later St John's Church was constructed, with a much larger bell tower.
The picture of Brigg just prior to the motor car era is worth comparing with today.
In 1900 the Angel had only recently received the arts & crafts wooden frontage that is now such a familiar feature.
The tall building behind the gas lamp has changed little in 120 years, and for many decades has housed a takeaway on its ground floor.
On the left is part of the wine shop that was replaced by the National Provincial's impressive art deco bank in the 1920s (later NatWest - now being utilised by Victor Finance).
Credit is due to various property owners, Brigg Urban District Council, the Glanford authority and now North Lincolnshire Council for preserving the traditional look of the Market Place since 1900.
There have been some sad exceptions. In the early 1950s an historic building was demolished to permit the widening of the junction where Cary Lane meets the Market Place. If future pedestrianisation had been predicted, this would have been unnecessary.
It happened during the reign of Brigg Urban District Council and Lindsey County Council - the latter being the highway authority at that time.

Brigg Buttercross - Spring 2020.