A LOCAL historian has called on developers behind plans to extend the wind turbine site at Hameldon Hill to protect the remains of Hapton Tower.

The history of the 500-year-old tower remains something of a mystery with only some of the walls and stones remaining at the site today.

But Coun Roger Frost is urging the developers to protect the site for greater inspection in coming years.

He said: “It is important that the tower is preserved so the opportunity is made available for a proper survey of the area.

“There are no pictures of the tower but is thought to have been very big, so it will be interesting to have a dig at the site and see what it was like, something I’m sure a university would be keen to do.”

The Tower was built by Sir John Towneley in 1510, a year into the reign of Henry VIII, and some of the Towneley family lived at the tower instead of Towneley Hall.

Coun Frost said: “There is quite a lot of mystery surrounding the tower, it was much bigger than many people believe and was quite an attractive building and home.

“It would be a shame to lose that and lose the chance to discover more about its history.”

A meeting between Burnley Council’s planning department, the archaeology department at Lancashire County Council and the developers took place at the site on Tuesday, with another meeting scheduled for Monday.

Coun Frost said: “Hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement on Monday and the site will be preserved.

“I’m not against the plans I just don’t want to see this site ruined or disturbed.”