The Two Lads, a pair of stone monuments on Crooked Edge Hill, Winter Hill, are to be dismantled and rebuilt this summer. The landmark has been a cherished destination for walkers and ramblers for centuries, with evidence of its presence dating back to 1787, when it was first recorded on maps. According to the Woodland Trust, which owns the land, the monument may also have been mentioned in a land deed from Cecily, widow of Roger de Worsley, in 1280.
The current cairn structures are unstable and unsafe, having been vandalised and rebuilt numerous times. A spokesperson for the trust stated that the large cairn has been deemed unsafe and does not meet health and safety standards. A temporary wooden fence is currently in place around the structure.
The trust has agreed to a design that will involve several changes to the original state of the monument. A public consultation has taken place, and the rebuilding will involve traditional Lancashire cairn construction methods, including the use of cement internally to aid stability and safety. A mounded wall in traditional drystone style will also be built around the Two Lads.
The dismantling of the cairns is scheduled to take place between 15 and 31 July, followed by a community archaeological dig in August. The restoration of the monument is expected to be completed by October.
The Two Lads are a significant landmark in the area, offering stunning views of Lancashire's Ribble Estuary, the Peak District, the Irish Sea, and the Yorkshire Dales. 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'.