Stainland Cross
Consultation
Introduction
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Stainland & District Parish Council are inviting you to share your views about your priorities for the Stainland Cross public space. The site we are considering is the triangle of land at the top of Carr Hall Lane. Stainland & District Parish Council would like to invest in this space in order to
- make the space more accessible for everyone;
- make the space easier to maintain;
- enhance the setting of the listed building (Stainland Cross) and the character of Stainland Conservation Area;
- create a space that residents of Stainland and Holywell Green can be proud of;
- inform visitors about the history of the Cross and the village generally.
We want the Cross to take its rightful place in the Story of Stainland both for today and future generations.
The consultation is to aid consideration of some of the issues with the existing environment around the Cross and to generate ideas for different approaches to landscape design that could be taken when refurbishing the public space around the Cross.
Any different thoughts and ideas that you have will be very welcome and will be considered amongst the possible approaches taken. We have created a questionnaire about this topic which can be accessed online or picked up from Stainland Pharmacy. There will also be a drop-in session at St. Andrew’s Church on Saturday 25th October, including displays about the local context, where you will be able to speak with a landscape designer and parish councillors.
Historic Context
Stainland Cross before 1939 (public domain, digitally enhanced)
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The origins of Stainland Cross are lost to history. However, we do know that it dates from before the end of the 15th century and is likely to have been created after the Saxon and Viking periods due to the plain style of the supporting column - Norse and Saxon stone carvings usually include more elaborate decoration.
Unusually, instead of being carved in the form of a cross, the ‘cross’ is expressed as a relief in the top piece of the structure, using the ‘X’ shape associated with St. Andrew, termed a ‘saltire’. (This is the format of the flag of Scotland, for which St. Andrew is the patron saint.)
The Cross is also carved in the form of a chalice (a cup used in religious ceremonies). Originally, this was capped with a coverpiece; it is not known when this was removed.
The Cross was restored in 1875 by one ‘Mr. Barber of Halifax’, being surrounded by ironwork railings until later in the 20th century, when it was moved to its current position.
In actual fact the previous position was only a little to the east of where it stands now.
Stainland Cross is a Grade II listed building.
The Site
(drawings - Simon Watkins)
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The area around the Cross has changed on various occasions in its history.
The current arrangement of paved areas, steps and planting dates has been in place for many years. Over that time, the stonework has been patched up, in places with concrete slabs that don’t match the natural stone used for most of the site. The crazy paving has become difficult to maintain weed free, and some of the planting has become overgrown, partially obscuring the Cross from view.
The main route across the site from the Stainland Road to Carr Hall Lane comprises unevenly spaced steps and a steep stepped-ramp, without the benefit of a handrail. There is little space on the pavement for people crossing the road to access this path.
At the other end of the site, the existing simple metal railing has been bent out of shape and is arguably not in keeping with the elegant, traditional railings typical of the village.
With the site being steeply sloping, the terraces of planting are difficult to access for maintenance in their current configuration.
We hope to resolve some of these issues by refurbishing the landscape immediately around the Cross. Are these issues important to you? Are there any other issues that you think could be addressed?
The Future
© Crown copyright and database rights 2025 Ordnance Survey AC0000808122
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Stainland & District Parish Council have some funding put aside for managing green spaces, including the area around the Cross. Depending on the outcome of this consultation, it will seek to boost the available budget through grant funding to ensure the project has the resources needed for a once-in-a-generation refurbishment of this public space.
Do you think that Stainland Cross and its surroundings are important for the village? Should the refurbishment of the site be a priority for Stainland & District Parish Council? What kind of improvements to the space would you like to see if funds can be secured?
Let us know by following this link below to our online survey, or by picking up a questionnaire from Stainland Pharmacy and returning it to Stainland & District Parish Council, The Old Library, Westgate, Stainland HX4 9HF, by 10th November.