A ROSSENDALE quarry has been put on the map to mark its importance in the town’s industrial heritage.

When ramblers put their best foot forward at Cragg Quarry, above Waterfoot, they will discover the history of the site, which supplied Haslingden flag stones to landmarks all over the country, including Trafalgar Square in London.

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The £21,000 restoration project to install way markers, information boards and leaflets was spearheaded by the Friends of Valley of Stone, with funding from Lancashire Environmental Fund and Newground.

Chairwoman of the FOVOS Liz Hinchliffe said: “The volunteers have carried out a year-long project to create a walking route around the quarry that has way markers with numbers that correspond to an information leaflet.

“We have also installed two large information boards that tell the history of the quarry and these have QR codes so anyone who doesn’t have a leaflet can access it by scanning the code.

“We held a number of guided walks around the site and this helped us plan where the paths should be, so walkers and mountain bikers didn’t clash, and we also gained new members for FOVOS.

“We had a working party to restore one of the quarryman’s huts and Alan Rhodes, a master dry stone waller from Whitworth, trained the 15 volunteers to work on the building.

“We are hoping that Cragg Quarry will be as successful as the walking and mountain bike trails around Lee Quarry, above Bacup.”

Trail leaflets are available from libraries, sports centres, FOVOS members and the Valley of Stone website www.valleyofstone.org.uk To access the quarry walkers can leave from Waterfoot and go through Cowpe and follow the Pennine Bridleway or walk from Lee Quarry.

The walk offers stunning views over the Rossendale countryside from Bacup to Waterfoot, Haslingden to Ramsbottom.

Valley of Stone was a Heritage Lottery-funded project started in 2007 to celebrate the unique quarrying heritage of Rossendale. In 2011 FOVOS was set up to continue the work.

At the annual general meeting in October members will decide on a project for the coming year.