Mystery after historic Astley Bridge artefact disappears

The marker stone, had been in place on Ashworth Lane in Astley Bridge, for an estimated 200 years, according to local residents..

The foot high marker has just disappeared leaving residents annoyed and dumbfounded.

Bolton Council are investigating.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough said: "I have had people message me and I have sent an email to the assistant director of highways. 

The marker stone last week (Image: Public)

"People are very keen on the history. It is very much an historic part of Astley Bridge, the Bank Top/Eagley area. 

"I don't know how long it had been there, but Astley Bridge wasn't part of Bolton for a long time. 

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"I have seen it many, many times. It is just one of those things that has always been there." 

She added: "It won't have been that easy to move. I was amazed at how many people have been following it, some were saying that they see it every day. It is part of the history and the heritage. 

Where the stone used to be (Image: Public)

"Then somebody comes along and picks up a stone which has been there for 100-odd years. It is awful to think people have such little value for heritage." 

One resident, who wished not to be named, said: "My child goes to Smithills Primary school, so I go past it daily. 

"We kept an eye on it and clearly other people had been as well. I was there on Friday when we went past at around 3.30pm, but then over the weekend it has vanished. 

"It is small, but a significant piece of local history. And it is the principle of the matter. 

How the marker stone looked before (Image: Google Maps)

"It just comes down to local history, a little reminder of how things were. You had the Bank Top village, then Ashworth Lane was literally fields." 

He added: "Even though it is a small thing, it is a part of history and something people local to Astley Bridge care about. It is a connection to the past." 

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “We have been made aware that a marker stone has been removed from Ashworth Lane in Astley Bridge. 

“We have made arrangements for a highways inspector to visit the site and investigate the matter further.”