A SEARCH has been launched for an important piece of Darwen's history which could by lying at the bottom of somebody's garden!

Local historian Barbara Riding, who lectures on the Sudell family of Woodfold Hall, discovered the existence of a commemorative stone dedicated to a member of the family, when she was giving a talk to the Blackburn Family History Society.

Member Jack Aspin remembered seeing a slide featuring the stone in Darwen Camera Club's archives.

Further research has since found that the stone, which was inscribed "This wood was planted and grown by John Richmond for Mr John Sudell 1760", first came to light during the time when the houses in the Hollins Grove area of Darwen were being built. It was photographed by a member of Darwen Camera Club and is one of a collection of lantern slides compiled between 1894 and 1913.

Mrs Riding said: "According to the 1848 map there was a wood called Sudell Wood in that area. I presume this is the wood referred to on the stone. The Sudell's were millionaires in their time and owned a lot of land in both Darwen and Blackburn. If the stone is found it will be the second one discovered in the borough."

The old script accompanying the Camera Club's slide collection says that Sudell Wood contained many holly trees, which could have been how Hollins Grove derived its name.

Mrs Riding added: "I have contacted Darwen Library and Darwen Historical Society but nobody seems to know where this stone might be. Perhaps it is in the corner of a field or at the bottom of someone's garden!"

Further information about the Sudell family can be found in W A Abraham's book The History of Blackburn.

Anybody with information to help Mrs Riding can ring on 01254 54303.

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