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Historic sign taken from Peak District trail

George TorrEast Midlands
News imagePeak & Northern Footpaths Society A green sign on a country trail which reads: PUBLIC FOOTPATH AND BRIDAL ROAD TO EDALE AND CASTLETON VIA FOOT OF KINDER SCOUT DO NOT TRESPASS P.D&N.C.F.P.S 1905Peak & Northern Footpaths Society
The sign is said to date back to 1905 and was the first erected by the Peak & Northern Footpaths Society

Volunteers who look after countryside walking routes have pleaded for the return of a historic sign in the Peak District.

Peak & Northern Footpaths Society (P&NFS) said the iron-made sign was believed to have been stolen close to the A624 at Carr Meadow, north of Little Hayfield in Derbyshire, in late November, but it was only reported to them on 20 December.

The charity - which monitors, protects and improves rights of way - said the sign was the first their organisation installed in 1905.

Signpost officer David Morton said: "The sign is a little piece of history but it really is worth next to nothing in cash terms."

News imagePeak & Northern Footpaths Society An open gate to a field with a white arrow added on the image pointing to a hole in the ground where the sign once stood.Peak & Northern Footpaths Society
The sign was reportedly taken close to the A624 at Carr Meadow north of Little Hayfield

Morton said he received an email from a rambler to tell him the signpost had gone.

He travelled up there and said he was "shocked" to find a "neatly dug hole" in the ground where the sign had been.

In 2020, the plate was shot-blasted and powder-coated before being fixed with shear nuts to the steel post. It was repainted again in 2024.

But Morton added despite its historical value, the sign had little monetary value.

"This sign has been at that spot for generations, it's a little local landmark steeped in history," he said.

"But it's worth next to nothing, it's a very heavy piece of cast iron but its scrap value will be negligible.

"Maybe someone thinks it's worth a decent amount of money but I can guarantee it isn't."

News imageDavid Morton A man in a green coat wearing glasses smiling for the camera. He is in a countryside setting stood next to a green sign which reads N487 2014 PUBLIC FOOTPATH TO CHINLEY CHURN BUGSWORTH BASIN PLEASE CONTROL YOUR DOG LEAVE NO LITTER.David Morton
David Morton said the sign north of Little Hayfield (not pictured) had plenty of historic value but little monetary value

The society has urged anyone who may have seen the signpost being removed, offered for sale, or stored elsewhere to come forward.

They also addressed those who took the sign to "reconsider their actions and arrange for its return".

"I'd say let us have it back and we won't take any further action - they probably didn't know it was worth nothing and thought they would make a handsome profit on it," Morton added.

"But it means a lot to us, it was the first of more than 600 signs we have across our area we cover."

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