Thieves are dismantling ancient stone walls in North Wales, erasing local heritage and impacting the countryside’s beauty and ecology
Anglesey: It’s a real shame what’s happening to the ancient stone walls around here. Thieves are tearing them down, and it’s not just a few stones—they’re taking whole sections! These walls have been part of our history for centuries.
Local stone masons are getting creative to protect these walls. One guy even had to chisel fake cracks into stones to make them look less appealing to thieves. Can you believe that? It’s like trying to hide your best stuff from burglars!
One mason shared a story about a customer who lost five meters of wall. Another guy had half his ordered sandstone stolen before he could even build his wall. It’s just heartbreaking.
These stone walls are more than just pretty sights; they’re part of our heritage. They’ve been around for thousands of years, and many were built in the 19th century. They’re crucial for local wildlife too, providing homes for birds and insects.
One expert mentioned that stone theft isn’t new, but it seems to be getting worse. He recalled seeing coping stones disappearing over the years. It’s like a mini-crime wave happening right under our noses!
Recently, a photo went viral showing a wall that looked ransacked. Only the valuable dressed stones were missing, which raised suspicions. People online were calling the thieves “mindless thugs.”
It’s not just the landowners who are upset; it’s affecting the whole community. Tourists come to see the beauty of North Wales, and now they’re greeted with this mess. It’s a real blow to our local economy.
Desmond Gahan, a local mason, pointed out that creating these coping stones takes hours of hard work. But thieves are just snatching them up. He’s even had to mark stones with paint to deter theft, but it ruins the look of the walls.
There aren’t any official crime stats for stone theft, but it’s clear that historic sites are being targeted more often. It’s sad that some folks see this as a victimless crime, not realizing the impact it has on our heritage.
Desmond is doing his best to raise awareness about this issue. He wants people to understand that these walls belong to someone and that they’re part of our shared history. It’s a tough battle, but he’s not giving up!
