THE mystery of an unprepossessing stone discovered by an eagle-eyed Independent reader in Diggle has been solved.
But William Ager’s find of a stone, which could be up to 150 years old, has created another puzzle for keen local historians.
After featuring in our January paper the Saddleworth’s resident’s appeal for information about the discarded piece of material, engraved with the letters U L B C, we were inundated with responses.
Saddleworth Museum curator Peter Fox was among the first to contact us and provided some fascinating answers, as did others readers.
He said: “At one time the stone was one of the boundary markers for the Uppermill Local Board (ULB) and the ‘C’ shows its location, which was roughly where the (Saddleworth) school drive is now and where Pickhill Brook runs.”
Further information received explained how the ULB was formed in 1868, probably in response to cholera epidemics.
ULBs were given government permission to control sewers, water supply and street cleaning. The administrative area of the Uppermill LB was marked by the boundary stones.
The boundary runs from the marker on Wade Lock bridge to Den Quarries to Ryefield Drive to Pickhill along the old railway line to turn down Rush Hill to Wade Lock. (see map)
A marker bearing the letter ‘E’ is on display at Saddleworth Museum.
Saddleworth Historical Society member Alan Schofield said: “The stone found in Diggle will have been moved from the original site.
“If still there it would be nice to have it saved via the Historical Society or the Museum. “
Mr Ager said: “I have never heard of the Uppermill Local Board during all my time living in Saddleworth.
“I am grateful to your readers for providing information and hopefully the boundary stone can now be retrieved and find a safe, new home.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.