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those of us who have wandered around Saltersbrook,Lady Cross & Dean Head Stones may have come across the initials I.W.B.carved there, an article given to me from The Great Outdoors Magazine of September 1993 last year has gone toward explaining the carvings - the initials are of Isaac Watt Boulton, the article was written by his GreatGrandson Geoff Lewis and was entitled IN PURSUIT OF GREATGRANDFATHER.
Born in 1823 (died 1899)in Stockport I.W.B.became an eminent Industrialist in Ashton under Lyne,building amongst other things locomotives, he was also a J.P. and an Alderman,as well as being a keen " rambler" he was an authority on The Peak District, and campaigner for public access to ancient paths over Kinder Scout.
on 20/5/1893 The Aston under Lyne Herald published an article from I.W.B.describing a walk done the previous weekend "that may help some of your younger readers who believe in walking as a healthy exercise & are anxiously looking forward to the Whitsuntide weekend for the purpose of going on a long tramp over mountains and moorland."
I.W.B.travelled by train to Woodhead arriving at 0800 and breakfasted on "oatcakes off the flake,fresh butter and a glass of beer" whilst chatting with " the genial landlady" of The Millers Arms at Saltersbrook - now long gone.Opposite the ruins against the wall can be seen an inscribed stone -I.W.B. -Gordon Danks, Area Ranger remembers replacing it there a few years ago.
when we reach Lady Cross there are various initials carved on it - I.W.B. as well as a cross,plus N.B. and M.B - having researched I.W.B.on the internet ( Google search) I wonder if M.B could be Matthew Boulton his relative.
Heading across towards Shepherds Meeting Stones we pass a tapered rock near Dean Head Stones at Grid Ref.SK 1382298553 marked I.W.B. and H.P.B.
Close to here on the smaller of the stones at Hoar Stones Grid Ref. SK1557298245 can be seen a X and the initials W.P.M.( possibly William Payne of Frickley Hall,noted agricultural improver who had bought the Manor of Langsett in 1802- one of his improvements being dumb bell shaped fields so that cattle could find shelter) - on the main stone at Hoar Stones is a chiselled X with undecipherable markings that may be dates.
the route went down the Derwent valley which he described as resembling " a deep railway cutting" and there is only room at the bottom for the river itself- whenever the track ran out he would cross the river by boulders. he walked down past Ronksley Farm, took some refreshment with Mr Cameron of Howden House (who he described as a very nice man and a Scotchman!)past Abbey Grange, Derwent Hall and onto The Ashopton Inn, as no transport was available he had to walk onto The Marquis of Granby at Bamford eventually getting a lift at 1930 with 3 ladies and 4 gentlemen to Sheffield - however they insisted in stopping in every Public House on the way - The Millhouse Inn, Foxhouse Inn, & Dore Moor Inn before reaching Sheffield at 2330, catching the 0600 train to arrive home at 0810 the next day!!
HOAR STONES
On the 12th April 2008 I received a letter from Geoff Lewis, IWB's great grandson who had googled my site whilst googling IWB, The monument is still there and he has found 2 more inscriptions to give them a better name, one at Edale Head & the other on a gatepost close to Edale Cross
A GOOGLE search on the internet revealed quite a lot of detail regarding I.W.B.but perhaps anyone familiar with Ashton under Lyne could tell me if there is still a glacial boulder weighing 4 tons in the Churchyard of SAINT PETERS,ASHTON UNDER LYNE, this was discovered during excavations in the borough and acquired by I.W.B.and moved there with a suitable inscription as a memorial to his son THOMAS BOULTON - lost at sea on the mail steamer KINFAUNS whilst on a voyage to the Cape for the benefit of his health.
It is believed there was complicity by Trade Unionists to blow up this memorial as I.W.B. was anti Trade Unions
