Restoration
Restoration of historic milestones, crosses and landmarks
Having secured a Heritage Lottery fund bid in 2006 for the
restoration of some of the historic milestones, crosses and
landmarks around Knowsley, the historic crosses and milestones have
now been cleaned and restored.
Bronze plaques have been added to each landmark to help visitors
understand their important historic significance.
The artefacts that have been restored include:
- Roby cross,
Huyton
- Weeping
stone, Kirkby
- St Chads
cross, Kirkby
- Cronton
cross, Cronton
- Huyton cross,
Huyton
- Milestone, Liverpool Road, Huyton
- Pigeon house, Dovecot, Kirkby
- Cronton
stocks, Cronton
We encourage you to visit these artefacts for their historical
value.
Heritage celebration - School workshops
Involving young people in their local heritage was an important
part of the restoration project. Schools close to the crosses
and milestones were invited to take part in workshops to teach
pupils about the history of the artefacts. Pupils took part
in 14 workshops, with actresses in costume helping children learn
about toll roads, milestones and modes of transport from the
past.
Millbrook School –Winter 2006
Exhibitions
To promote the restoration of Knowsley's historic milestones,
crosses and landmarks, exhibtions were displayed in the borough's
libraries, One Stop Shops and also at Prescot Museum.
The displays were also taken along to the Heritage Events and
proved to be a great pull for local people of all ages. Historic
maps from the 1890s were particularly popular with older
generations whilst younger family members took part in the craft
and workshop activities.
Huyton Library awareness event 2006
Heritage events
Green Man in the Gallery
A trio of medieval minstrels dressed in period costume led the
‘Green Man in the Gallery’ workshops to educate young people about
traditional instruments.
Singing throughout the event, the minstrels performed medieval
music, letting visitors handle the instruments and using display
boards to help explain more.
The Green Man was a medieval entity that is depicted in many
historic buildings. The theme also fitted in quite nicely as
Halloween loomed and grotesque images of The Green
Man appealed to younger audiences..
Visitors took part in making green man plaques out of
clay and took them home to paint.
Angels in the Architecture
Over 2,500 visitors helped make 'Angels in the
Architecture' a great day to learn about local history, traditional
music and the restoration project.
The exhibition displayed images of angels in local architecture
on headstones, local historic buildings and even on the vents of
the Mersey Tunnel as well as information about the
restorationproject.
Around 400 people took part in the two workshops which ran
throughout the day. One workshop involved the making of angels
out of coloured felt and wool, with the artisans explaining all
about the wool and its traditional uses. The other workshop
involved the making of clay angels which could be taken home
painted and made into Christmas tree decorations.
The medieval minstrels received tremendous rounds of applause
as they played fanfares, traditional songs and Christmas
carols. The music enticed lots of visitors and participants into
the marquee.
The Archive Officer from Prescot Museum volunteered his services
and brought a range of local historic artefacts which could be
handled by visitors.
'Angels in the Architecture' was a great success and all the
participants got in touch to say what an enjoyable and successful
event it had been.
The trio of minstrels