A LOCAL-HISTORY lover is making a ‘last ditch’ plea to save a derelict historic cottage before it is lost forever.

Angel Lee is hoping someone will come forward to save 500-year-old Ivy Cottage, where Oliver Cromwell’s troops were billeted during the English Civil War.

The once-picturesque cottage, in Cunliffe Brow, Smithills, has stood empty for several years and been blighted by vandalism and arson attacks.

Its owner has moved away from the area but has not accepted any offers for the property or taken steps to renovate it.

Mrs Lee has contacted Bolton Council, Bolton Heritage and English Heritage, but so far no one has been able to help.

But the 62-year-old, who lives in nearby Normandale Avenue, says it would be a tragedy if the cottage and its rich history were to be lost to the people of the borough.

She said: “It’s a real mess now. I went for a walk this morning and it’s got considerably worse.

“It’s just such a shame, there’s such history with it for Bolton, it’s just so sad. The cottage is on the edge of a nature trail at the bottom of Brenford Avenue and it’s like the wood has taken over it. It’s so overgrown you have to fight your way through to get to it.”

Mrs Lee believes the cottage still has the potential to become a community asset if a group or organisation would invest in it.

She said: “There could be a project that could train young people in heritage crafts to renovate it back to its former glory and open it up as somewhere the community or schools could use.

“It seems so sad. The next thing it will be up for demolition and then it will be gone forever. If you look at the pictures before and after it’s awful to see. I can’t believe someone would buy a building and leave it to rot.”

But she has not given up hope that the cottage, which is steeped in so much history, could still have a future.

“I just hope somebody or some sort of heritage organisation will save it,” she said.

Smithills ward councillor Carole Swarbrick agreed it was a sad situation, but said the council’s hands were tied as it is privately owned.

She said: “It’s unfortunate it’s been allowed to fall into disrepair and someone hasn’t been able to do something with it. It’s potentially a lovely property. However it would need so much money spending on it. If people won’t invest you can’t do anything with it and consequently it falls into disrepair”