Barton Cross Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Barton Cross is a small cross that has been rearrected several times, most recently in 2000. This Cache is part of a series of cross themed chaches of which this is the first.
The Terrain rating for this is only because all the crosses caches are road side and care is needed with small children
Ancient Crosses
Crosses usually marked a gathering place where proclamations or announcements of puplic importance were made, as in 1715, when the Old Pretnder was proclaimed King James 111 at Lancaster market cross.
The cross in Broughton churchyard is made of millstone grit, probably brought from Longridge. The flight of three steps is all that remains of the original and is commonly known as a “calvery”. Its present position dates from 1818.
The base of Daniel’s cross stands in Whitingham Lane at the entrance to Broughton Hall Farm. It is an ungainly lump of stone. A Roman Catholic family of the name of Daniel held properties in Broughton and Durton. When Mr Houghton built Stone House in 1912, he found the stone in a pit, buried in the mud, and with the help of the village joiner, Richard Hardman, restored it to its present place.
Durton Lane cross shown on a map of 1848 was situated at the road intersection three quarters of a mile east of the church. It was broken up in 1901 to make a few rubbing stones for sharpening knives or cleaning doorsteps, though these were usually obtained from a stream.
Durton Green cross lay a few hundred yards east of Durton Lane cross near Broughton Hall. Haighton Green cross, marked the manor boundary. Duxen cross stood one mile north east of the church in a district now known as Dean Meadow, but the title Duxen is obscure in origin. Many of the crosses in Goosnargh and Broughton owed their destruction to the unholy zeal of the Rev. Wilkinson, Vicar of Gosnargh, a vehement Protestant, to whom the crosses must have reared up like idolatrous images. Some he pulled down with his own hands, but no man deterred him, since he had acquired the reputation of being a wizard and prophet, and unfortunately many of his prophecies came true.
Within ten miles of Penwortham Priory there used to be seventy five crosses. The reason for their erection was varied:-
1) Used as land boundaries for monks in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
2) Preaching crosses used by itinerant friars.
3) Church yard crosses.
4) Roadside or weeping crosses:- objects of worshippers’ casual prayers, and sometimes known as funeral crosses where a cortage preceeding to church for burial would rest.
5) Crosses at holy wells where healing powrs were said to exist.
6) Market crosses for public meeting and business.
7) Inglewhite market cross was set up in 1675 by Warren, lord of the manor. A slave could be set free at a cross.
8) Memorial crosses in rememberance of those murdered by robbers in Tudor times.
9) A cross at Salwick is dedicated to Edmond Birley of Clifton Hall, Preston Guild Mayor in 1882, for his civic work. The Barton cross in Jepps Lane must have been standing there since the thirteenth century. It has been re-erected many times and part of its base is substitute to the original, being an old cheese press stone. Milk wagons seem to use it as a skittle.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng gur onfr bs gur Jbbqra Cbfg
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