Has been discussed before Moonbyter in other threads, sure in others too, here is one :-
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ves-29781.html
Your opening statement, however, says it all I am afraid :- "I used to visit a
little known gem" Exactly, only a small proportion of the populuation of Accrington ever used to visit these caves, even with the plan you suggested of picnic tables, etc., don't think would be utilised so much. Better to use this site in a more economic way. Would sooner see any monies being put into the front of the coppice on restoration of the shelter, monument, etc., as being discussed on another thread at this moment.
Take comfort in the fact, that the caves live on in the form of our Town Hall.
As for places like Sacred Heart, well, this was up to the church, wasn't it .. would not have liked to have seen public money wasted in holding up a crumbling place of worship. As for the Grammar School; they moved on to build a more modern one .. quite rightly so or would have been much criticism by the people, again of crumbling facilities. Obviously, no private buyer was prepared to come forward to buy this property and convert into ? So down it had to come to make way for housing. Better for us all, I say.
Victoria Hospital still there and isn't the mansion in Oak Hill Park ?
Can't ever see the Market Hall, Arcade and certain other buildings coming under the demolishers swinging stone in the near future .. in fact, plans afoot to ensure it stays there for a long while to come.
So take heart Moonbyter, we still have some grand old buildings which will be around for some time yet, albeit converted into flats, etc.