A PROJECT to locate, restore and preserve a series of historic milestones across Saddleworth has been completed.
The markers, which are made from cast iron mounted on stone bases, have stood beside local roads for generations and offer a glimpse into Saddleworth’s rich history.
While Oldham Council had already restored just over half of the surviving milestones, Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani and a team of volunteers set about bringing the remainder back to their former glory.
The project began following a conversation with former Mayor of Austerlands, Paul Sykes, who had previously helped restore the milestone opposite the Three Crowns in Scouthead.
Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “This all started for me when speaking to Paul Sykes, who had worked with a couple of other volunteers to restore the milestone opposite the Three Crowns in Scouthead.
“He passed on advice from the council’s highways team on the correct paints to use and how to carry out the restoration.”
Working from a council list of milestones, which was found to be incomplete, Councillor Al-Hamdani tracked down every surviving milestone across Saddleworth and provided the council with an updated record of their locations and condition.
He said: “Some of the milestones were already in good condition, even ones right up on top of the moors. But nearly half needed various degrees of work, from touching up the white paint and lettering to a much more comprehensive restoration.”
The restoration project has taken place over several years, with some of the earliest work now being revisited for maintenance and improvement.
Many of the milestones feature references to Saddleworth’s historic meres – Lordsmere, Quickmere, Friarmere and Shawmere – while others refer to Wakefield and Austerlands, providing a reminder of the area’s administrative and geographical history.
Of the 24 milestones originally listed, one has been lost after being destroyed in a road traffic collision. Two more, located in Slackcote, have suffered significant damage, leaving only their upper sections intact.
There is also one milestone above Delph which remains unrestored because it now sits several metres inside a farmer’s field rather than beside the roadside. Councillor Al-Hamdani has asked the council to explore whether it can be relocated so it can be restored and appreciated by the public.
The project may now lead to a new way for residents and visitors to explore Saddleworth’s history. Councillor Al-Hamdani is keen to work with local walkers to create heritage trails linking the milestones within the traditional meres.
He said: “I can provide a list of all the locations, and if people are happy to come up with a route, I’d be happy to design a route map with some of the historical information about the area.”
Anyone interested in helping develop heritage walking routes can contact Councillor Al-Hamdani via email. A paper detailing the history of Saddleworth’s milestones is also available from the Saddleworth Historical Society.
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