Back in June 2001, up on Heptonstall Moor, there stood a piece of history known as ‘Reaps Cross’. But it wasn’t looking too grand—it had seen better days, broken and weathered, whispering tales of times long gone. Local folks, though, weren’t ready to let it fade away into obscurity. They wanted it back, standing tall and proud like it once did.
So, they brought it down to our workshop at Rockend Moor, where we know a thing or two about stone and fixing things up. With a nod from English Heritage and a lot of elbow grease, we got to work.
Now, let me tell you, Reaps Cross wasn’t an easy fix. It had been patched up before, back in 1940, with some iron pins that did more harm than good. But we weren’t ones to shy away from a challenge. We chopped off the damaged bits, crafted a new middle part, and put it all back together with a trusty stainless steel pin.
Once it was all done, Reaps Cross went back home, standing tall and proud like it used to. (Grid ref SD 94353026) But our story doesn’t end there.
Sadly, just after we finished, we lost a dear friend and supporter, Vic Dearden. His wife Carol wanted to keep his memory alive, so she had a half-sized replica made in his honour. You can see it over by the Long Causeway at Kebcote—a quiet tribute to a life well-lived.
In the end, Reaps Cross isn’t just a piece of old stone—it’s a symbol of community spirit and keeping our history alive, one repair at a time.
