The Return of the Butterton Cross

The village skyline looks a little more historic thanks to the efforts of Robert Walker and his kin. In 2026, the family erected a new version of the historic Butterton Cross, returning this traditional wayside marker to its rightful place. The 10-foot monument combines old and new: a medieval-style cross head sourced from a Yorkshire reclamation yard is paired with a custom-made Derbyshire stone shaft. This assembly is set firmly into the ancient original base, which historically served as the wishing well.

The entire monument is now featured within a newly built stone enclosure. Tucked into this wall is a genuine stone trough from the farm, re-purposed as the new “Wishing Well.” By placing it here, the Walker family has honoured the local tradition of the well, which was originally positioned across the road, ensuring this piece of village history lives on, in its new home.

Standing on the brow of the hill along the ancient road from Miller’s Dale, the Butterton Cross marks the Tideswell boundary. For those trekking toward Tideswell from the south, it offers the first glimpse of the church tower. In centuries past, this was a place of solemn rest. Funeral processions would halt here, the pallbearers catching their breath while offering prayers for the departed. It would also have been a guidepost for the “jaggers”—the packhorse drivers navigating the solitary trails through the open wilderness—the cross was more than a spiritual monument; it was a vital guidepost to help them on their way.

Though the original stone cross was likely vandalised during the destruction of the religious monuments during Oliver Cromwell’s era, the sanctity of the site never died. It evolved over time, the “Wishing Well” of Butterton Cross was born, it became the point where secret wishes were made. For generations, locals have paused at the weathered stone socket, to weave blades of grass or stems of straw into the shape of a crucifix, placing them carefully into the water with a silent wish.

The ritual you must follow

The next time you walk the old road to Miller’s Dale, stop at the repositioned wishing well. Make a cross out of grass and make a silent wish. However heed the warning: Never breathe a word of what you’ve wished for, or the magic of the Butterton Cross will break, and your secret will vanish into the surrounding hills.

–Tony Hill