Deep in the heart of the Great Marsden area of Nelson lies a highway that holds a haunting secret

The Random Jottings of Donald Jay from Nelson in Lancashire.
Deep in the heart of the Great Marsden area of Nelson lies a highway that holds a haunting secret. Legend has it that on a moonlit night in the year 1877, two fork makers named Alexander Faulkner and Joseph Heap found themselves embroiled in a clandestine operation. Hidden under the cover of darkness, they engaged in the illegal act of bowling stones along the highway, a popular pastime of the time.
Unbeknownst to them, a plain-clothed policeman was patrolling the area that fateful night. The officer, keen on preserving law and order, came across the mischievous duo engaged in their forbidden game. Swiftly, he apprehended Alexander and Joseph, exposing their illicit activities to the unforgiving light of justice.
The law was clear, and the consequences were severe. The two men, who had thought their nighttime exploits would bring only amusement and thrill, now faced the full weight of the law. With heavy hearts, Alexander and Joseph were convicted of their crimes and fined a mere shilling each. It was a small price to pay for their transgressions, or so it seemed at the time.
Now, 146 years later, whispers of the incident still echo through the Great Marsden area. Locals claim that on certain nights, when the moon is full and the air is thick with mystery, the ghosts of Alexander Faulkner and Joseph Heap can be seen replaying their ill-fated game of bowling stones along the very same highway.
Travelers passing through the area have reported encountering a chilling sight. A spectral haze forms, as if the air itself becomes tinged with an ethereal glow. Then, from the depths of the night, the sound of rolling stones resonates, growing louder with each passing moment. Soon, the translucent figures of Alexander and Joseph materialize, their ghostly forms forever trapped in their game of defiance against the law.
Witnesses tell of the strange and eerie sight: the two apparitions, engrossed in their game, appear as if frozen in time. The moonlight glimmers off the ghostly stones, casting an otherworldly glow on the highway. As the two spectral figures compete with one another, their faces etched with determination, it becomes evident that their restless spirits are bound to this earthly realm, forever repeating their ill-fated game.
Some say the ghosts of Alexander Faulkner and Joseph Heap seek redemption, endlessly seeking to overturn their conviction, while others believe they relish the opportunity to haunt the very place where their misdeeds were exposed. Regardless of the truth, the phenomenon persists, captivating the imagination of all those who hear the tale.
To this day, the highway at Great Marsden serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences that befall those who dare to challenge the law. As night descends and the moon casts its eerie light upon the land, the ghosts of two fork makers continue their eternal game of bowling stones. Their ethereal presence a reminder that even in death, the echoes of past actions can reverberate through the fabric of existence, reminding us of the secrets that lie buried within the annals of time.
By Donald Jay

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maybe they just like playing their wild and crazy game