'Two Lads' stone monuments on moors to be rebuilt

A pair of moorland stone landmarks known locally as the 'Two Lads' are to be taken down and rebuilt this summer to make them safer and deter further vandalism.

The cairns, on Crooked Edge Hill, an outlying summit on Winter Hill between Lancashire and Greater Manchester, have been a beloved destination of walkers and ramblers for centuries.

While they were first recorded on maps in 1787, according to Woodland Trust which owns the land, they may also have been mentioned in a land deed from Cecily, widow of Roger de Worsley, in 1280.

The trust said after dismantling the cairns there will be a community archaeological dig in August, then they will be rebuilt with the help of a dry stone waller and local volunteers.

Currently the landmark is made up of one large cairn, another demolished cairn and a third very small construction of stones set some distance away.

The site is acknowledged by Historic England research records as a monument described as 'Two Lads', 'a confused heap of stones, seems to be the wreckage of one or more cairns'.

The Woodland Trust, which has owned the land since 2015, has made the decision to rebuild the 'lads' to make them safer.

It is also part of efforts to conserve their historical significance, and preserve them for future generations to enjoy, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "The current cairn structures are unstable and unsafe, they have been vandalised and rebuilt numerous times, with a third mound recently appearing.

"The large cairn has been deemed unsafe and does not currently meet health and safety standards, having a temporary wooden fence around it.

"Action must be taken to permanently deter further vandalism and make the area safer for visitors."

A design has been agreed that will involve several changes from its current state, and comes after a public consultation.

The trust said: "Traditional Lancashire cairns are built in a beehive shape and this is how Two Lads was originally built.

"The second cairn was originally built next to the current large cairn and is marked by a pile of rubble.

"We will be rebuilding the second cairn in its last known position, so 'Two Lads' remain in the landscape."

The trust said cement will be used in the reconstruction of the monument to aid stability and safety but added it will only be used internally so it is not visible.

A mounded wall in traditional Lancashire drystone style will also be built around Two Lads.

The trust has published an estimated timeline, dependent on the weather and bird survey, for the restoration.

The take down of the cairns will happen between 15 and 31 July, then there will be a community archaeological dig in the area from 3 to 14 August.

From 7 August to October and beyond the restoration of Two Lads will take place.

One route to the Two Lads landmark includes starting from Walker Fold car park, across the Smithills Estate and up to the moorland, a walk of around 1.7 miles (2.7km).

From the summit, visitors can spot Lancashire's Ribble Estuary, the Peak District, the Irish Sea, and the Yorkshire Dales.

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Landmark cairns restoration plan to deter vandals