A MONUMENT marking the site of a famous ancient battle which saw English soldiers repel Scottish invaders as they tried to take the North is at the centre of a new skirmish.

Maps have revealed that the monument to the Battle of the Standard - a bloody conflict which claimed thousands of Scottish lives in 1138AD and often known as the Battle of Northallerton - which was thought to be in the parish of Brompton, is now apparently in the town's boundaries.

Northallerton Town councillors have been told the monument is within their area and Brompton Parish Council, which only a few years ago took over responsibility for the monument, is asking the authority to reclaim it.

The 880th anniversary of the battle is coming up in 2018 and there are plans to spruce up the monument, which lies on the main A167 road towards Darlington, and repair faults to the foundations.

But Brompton council said they are not allowed under local government financial regulations to carry out capital work on something they do not own.

Northallerton Town councillor Paul Atkin who is also the clerk of Brompton Parish council said: "A few years ago Brompton took it over because it was in our parish, or so we thought, Northallerton had looked after it before that and we thought it was our responsibility.

“In 2018 it will be the 880th anniversary of the battle and events are being planned so we earmarked money to do work on the monument, there is some damage to the plinth and it needs cleaning and an improved information board.

But a new map has emerged which shows that the boundary between the two parishes is in a ditch behind the monument, putting it firmly in Northallerton.

“For nearly 100 years or so it’s been thought to be in Brompton parish," said Cllr Atkin.

"But now we can’t as a council spend capital on something which is not our responsibility nor can we insure it, we will do work that had already been planned to clean it up but really now it is up to Northallerton to take it back."

Northallerton Mayor, Cllr John Forrest, told members of the town council: ”I was always led to believe it was in Brompton, but if it is in our parish we need to get a report on what work needs doing to the monument and find out from Area Highways who is responsible.”

Invading Scottish forces under King David I of Scotland were stopped at the site by an English army fighting for King Stephen. They were mostly made up of local militia and retainers supporting barons from Yorkshire and the midlands.

The centre of the English position was marked by a mast mounted on a cart which had the banners or standards of the minsters of York, Beverley and Ripon, hence the name of the battle.