Staincross

{{Short description|Village in South Yorkshire, England}} {{Redirect|Windhill, Staincross|the area of Doncaster|Windhill, Mexborough}} {{for|the historic division of the West Riding of Yorkshire|Staincross (wapentake)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}}

{{Infobox UK place | country = England | official_name = Staincross | coordinates = {{coord|53.590833|-1.500000|display=inline,title}} | metropolitan_borough = [[Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley|Barnsley]] | metropolitan_county = [[South Yorkshire]] | region = Yorkshire and the Humber | constituency_westminster = [[Barnsley North (UK Parliament constituency)|Barnsley North]]  | post_town = BARNSLEY | postcode_district = S75 | postcode_area = S | dial_code = 01226 | static_image_name = Staincross Common - geograph.org.uk - 847305.jpg | static_image_caption = Staincross Common }}

'''Staincross''' is a village in [[South Yorkshire]], England, on the border with [[West Yorkshire]]. Historically part of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], the population now falls within the Darton East ward of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley]]. The village also gave its name to the [[Staincross (wapentake)|Staincross wapentake]] in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is situated about {{convert|3|mi}} from Barnsley, and {{convert|8|mi}} from Wakefield.

==Geography== Staincross lies off the [[A61 road]], about three miles north-west of [[Barnsley]]. It is located at approximately {{coord|53|35|27|N|1|30|0|W|display=inline}}, and at an elevation of around 410 feet (125 m) above [[sea level]]. The section of the A61 between Staincross and [[Newmillerdam]] is rated in the top three most dangerous roads in Britain according to a survey conducted by The [[AA Motoring Trust]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://217.174.251.13/library/pdfs/20060531_UK_risk_map_results.pdf |title=How Safe Are Britain's Main Roads?|page=14 |publisher=The AA Motoring Trust |access-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011323/http://217.174.251.13/library/pdfs/20060531_UK_risk_map_results.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History== The name is believed to be derived from a [[Saxons|Saxon]] stone cross ('stane cross') that until the 18th century occupied a position on the junction of Staincross Common - which in itself is an ancient trackway - and Greenside. The stone, now lost, may have been the remains of a rural shrine.<ref>[http://www.roman-britain.org/places/staincross.htm Staincross Common] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927152253/http://www.roman-britain.org/places/staincross.htm |date=27 September 2006 }}</ref> Alternatively, those remains may have been from a typical wapentake meeting cross, now partially reconstructed in Cawthorne parish church grounds a short distance from Ailric's local power base.<ref>D. Haywood "A Yorkshire Thane"</ref>

==Postal recognition== After a prolonged campaign (backed by former Test cricket umpire, [[Dickie Bird]], a resident of Staincross), a ballot was held in January 2003 to determine whether the residents of Staincross wanted their mail to include the name of the village.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2652313.stm | work=BBC News | title=Villagers vote on postal change | date=13 January 2003 | access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref> Before the ballot, Staincross mail bore the name of a neighbouring village, either [[Mapplewell]] or [[Darton]]. Indeed, it is unclear where the boundaries between the three villages lie. Villagers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal by 966 to 199<ref name="Postcomm Consultation">{{cite web |title = REVIEW OF ROYAL MAIL’S LICENCE CONDITION 20 – POSTCODE ADDRESS FILE CODE OF PRACTICE A DECISION DOCUMENT - Postcomm consultation |url = http://www.psc.gov.uk/postcomm/live/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--changing-postal-addresses/PAFCodeofPracticeReviewFinalDoc.pdf |publisher = Postcomm Website |page=61 |accessdate = 27 August 2007 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071008100939/http://www.psc.gov.uk/postcomm/live/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--changing-postal-addresses/PAFCodeofPracticeReviewFinalDoc.pdf |archivedate = 8 October 2007 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> and [[Royal Mail]] implemented changes to officially recognise the village.

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Staincross}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070625204833/http://www.staincrosswmc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ Staincross Working Men's Club] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070206104750/http://www.staincross.churchgoers.co.uk/ Staincross Parish Church] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060503114036/http://www.geocities.com/staincrossmc/ Staincross Methodist Church]

[[Category:Villages in South Yorkshire]] [[Category:Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley]]