Thieves rip up 100-year-old paving stones at Bolton Parish Church
9:22am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News
Thieves rip up 100-year-old paving stones at Bolton Parish Church
A CONGREGATION has been left “horrified” after thieves stole valuable 100-year-old paving stones from Bolton Parish Church.
Twenty-five slabs of York paving stone have been ripped up from the path leading to the church.
The theft happened between 5pm last Wednesday and 11.30am on Thursday.
The theft of the stones, which can fetch up to £90 per square yard at reclaimers, has caused outrage amongst members of the congregation.
The vicar of Bolton, the Rev Matthew Thompson, said: “It is very unfortunate and frustrating this has happened because it is such a beautiful spot.
“The church and the yard is for the whole community and not just for our benefit.
“For it to be disfigured in that way is very frustrating. It will cost a great deal to make it safe and put it right.
“The stones are worth quite a lot of money and whoever did it has left quite a mess. We had to take swift action to make the area safe and fill in the space with gravel with the help of Bolton Council.”
The church was forced to install a roof alarm six months ago following a spate of lead thefts.
It is hoped the culprits of the latest theft, which took place between 5pm on Wednesday and 11.30am on Thursday, will be caught on CCTV footage from camera’s either on Silverwell Street, Church Gate or the system covering the church yard.
Cllr John Walsh, deputy church warden, said: “York paving stones are highly sought after and valuable. Everyone is horrified someone could commit this crime.
“The path forms a historic setting for one of the most beautiful buildings in the town. Those stones are more than 100 years old and we will never be able to put back that what was taken away.”
The theft comes just over a month after 400-year-old paving stones were stolen from grade II listed Haulgh Hall in Hilden Street. The historic building is thought to be the oldest in Bolton.
Bolton Civic Trust chairman, Brian Tetlow, said he has also fallen victim to paving stone thieves.
Mr Tetlow added: “It can be quite an expensive operation to source authentic flags from reclaimers, which is why they are stolen.
“I have had some stolen myself four times over the years. It is happening all over the place unfortunately and it is very sad that it is happening to historic buildings in Bolton.”
A police spokesperson said: “Our inquiries into this incident are ongoing.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (55)
9:33am Wed 30 Jan 13
oftbewildered2 says...
9:58am Wed 30 Jan 13
zoomzam says...
10:29am Wed 30 Jan 13
xxenigmaxx says...
10:29am Wed 30 Jan 13
xxenigmaxx says...
10:50am Wed 30 Jan 13
MarkP27 says...
11:00am Wed 30 Jan 13
Harry-Joe says...
11:01am Wed 30 Jan 13
mrdaviddixon says...
11:04am Wed 30 Jan 13
berushka says...
11:32am Wed 30 Jan 13
Hough64 says...
12:21pm Wed 30 Jan 13
cliff4treasurer says...
1:07pm Wed 30 Jan 13
marco999 says...
1:43pm Wed 30 Jan 13
boltonnut says...
4:15pm Wed 30 Jan 13
davoovad says...
4:31pm Wed 30 Jan 13
questionairre says...
Yep
Me too
No proof, but has the hallmarks of transit van driving, caravan living, rubbish tipping, hi-viz wearing section of our community.
4:37pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Wigan Trotter says...
7:45pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Citizen Cane says...
8:44pm Wed 30 Jan 13
mrdaviddixon says...
I once contacted Bolton Council to ask which buildings were due to be demolished so I could go photograph them before work was to take place...they said no demolitions were planned a couple of months later two schools and a mill were gone, luckily I had already been to photograph them, sometimes when the Heritage Society get wind of a demolition and take it to court the building gets burned by some arsonists and then has to be demolished to make it safe......who were the arsonists employed by ??????
9:06pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Comment777 says...
10:00pm Wed 30 Jan 13
boltonnut says...
11:03pm Wed 30 Jan 13
Andyroost says...
12:01am Thu 31 Jan 13
ARBEE says...
when he takes scrap from people he
weighs it, tells them how much it is worth then gives a receipt,and then tells
to come back in a week for the cash,he
reckons his business has dropped off
considerably,but what he takes is honest scrap.
8:34am Thu 31 Jan 13
yonmons says...
10:32am Thu 31 Jan 13
berushka says...
12:22pm Thu 31 Jan 13
mrdaviddixon says...
At the end of the day 100 years old is not all that old even though they are much sought after, when the church was rebuilt in the 1860s these flags were not even there so they are comparatively new compared to other things in the church yard, Bolton Council does it all the time !!!
2:33pm Thu 31 Jan 13
myfanwy7 says...
6:22pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Don Kiddick says...
6:53pm Thu 31 Jan 13
Don Kiddick says...
8:38pm Thu 31 Jan 13
genesis22 says...
1:11am Fri 1 Feb 13
ARBEE says...
round the clock protection like Salmond Rushdie, put your brain into gear before making remarks like this you dork.
9:23am Fri 1 Feb 13
Don Kiddick says...
9:36am Fri 1 Feb 13
mrdaviddixon says...
1:50pm Fri 1 Feb 13
berushka says...
3:18pm Fri 1 Feb 13
colournature says...
I hope that they find the culprits and - how would they have been punished 100 years ago ?
from a historian and fomer researcher
4:40pm Fri 1 Feb 13
judyben says...
5:38pm Fri 1 Feb 13
boltonnut says...
6:56pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Don Kiddick says...
6:59pm Fri 1 Feb 13
Don Kiddick says...
9:26pm Fri 1 Feb 13
BWFC71 says...
10:04pm Fri 1 Feb 13
davoovad says...
10:13pm Fri 1 Feb 13
davoovad says...
10:16am Sat 2 Feb 13
berushka says...
12:29pm Sat 2 Feb 13
JustBecause says...
Or chop of a hand
1:58pm Sat 2 Feb 13
Don Kiddick says...
7:14pm Sat 2 Feb 13
rostron says...
1:21am Sun 3 Feb 13
ARBEE says...
I think they will find one missing.
10:03pm Sun 3 Feb 13
Don Kiddick says...
11:37pm Sun 3 Feb 13
colournature says...
in the past battles were fought so that people could actually practice Christianity....
im not a really worshipper but i beleive that in things past and that these things should be protected - this is a part of our history and every one in Bolton should recognise that - if they dont , then they havent been educated correctly
4:27am Mon 4 Feb 13
ARBEE says...
7:33am Mon 4 Feb 13
Don Kiddick says...
12:42pm Mon 4 Feb 13
boltoncity says...
12:45pm Mon 4 Feb 13
boltoncity says...
1:37am Tue 5 Feb 13
SpeedyMonkey says...
8:03am Tue 5 Feb 13
Don Kiddick says...
5:24pm Tue 5 Feb 13
colournature says...
Its someone strong and doesnt mind lifting things - maybe its annie with her one wheelie bin from the other discussion(sorry annie no offence)
12:20am Wed 6 Feb 13
ARBEE says...
make a good brain donor, please !!!