Historic Metheringham village cross toppled in collision

Metheringham’s historic Market Cross has been knocked down in a road collision.
By Andy Hubbert
Published 7th Dec 2020, 10:57 GMT
Metheringham EMN-180112-172041001Metheringham EMN-180112-172041001
Metheringham EMN-180112-172041001

Metheringham Parish Council has thanked residents and Lincolnshire Police for their help on Wednesday evening after the incident at the village’s Market Cross, outside the library and Star and Garter pub.

The 700-year-old monument was broken into pieces when a silver van collided with it just after 5pm.

Lincolnshire Police say the driver was unhurt, but the impact dislodged the base from its fixings and broke the pillar into several pieces

The area was cordoned off for safety for people to avoid the rubble.

The smaller pieces are now safely stored in the Parish Council Office awaiting repair.

A village cross has stood on Cross Hill since the 14th century. The ancient cross was replaced by a new one in 1835 but, by the turn of the 20th century it had decayed. In 1911 it was dismantled and built into an adjacent stone wall, along with the original base. A new cross was erected to mark the Coronation of King George V, however this was badly damaged in 1945 by a United States Army lorry. This was replaced in 1947 with a lamp, but since then the cross had been restored to its 1911 design.