'Pillars are part of town's heritage'

The stone was hacked out of the hills above the town of Eston where iron ore was discovered, 152 years ago.

The discovery, in June 1850, turned the area into the biggest iron ore producer in the world and transformed nearby Middlesbrough into a boom town.

Tradition has it that Victorian ironmasters Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan made Eston a gift of the columns in recognition of the discovery that made them hugely rich.

The ironstone pillars stood outside Eston hospital and were removed to their present site, the entrance to the offices of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, in the 1970s.

The postal address of the town hall in Fabian Road is Eston, but many people from the town believe the area is technically South Bank.

Eston Residents' Association says letters and emails to the council calling for the pillars' return have not been acknowledged and it is threatening to call in the Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, for help.

"We want our dignity and our heritage back, and we will fight tooth and nail," said association spokeswoman Ann Higgins.

"The Government's buzz word is 'community'. We have been courteous in going through the appropriate channels with the council, but they have not given us the courtesy of a reply.

"We will have to consider our next step. But we would like to hear the views of other people before that next step.

"The pillars are outside the town hall, which is in South Bank, and are in a disgusting state.

"They have never been looked after, while we have nothing to mark our heritage."

She added: "There are lots of pots of money to do this work and the pillars could be returned to where they were removed from, where there are now just railings.''

Councillor David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: "This is something we have looked at in the past and we will look at again in the future as the redevelopment of Eston Square continues."