Let’s face it... black’s head will never go back up

ALTHOUGH it is possible the majority of people in Ashbourne would like it to happen, the black’s head is never going back up on the gallows.

It can’t, it wouldn’t be safe there. And if it can cause offence to anyone then it is, by definition, offensive.

So our attention now turns to what is going to happen to the head. And, of course, the historic Green Man gallows sign.

It’s hard to imagine anyone in the town wouldn’t like to see Ashbourne Town Council taking on the ownership of both items, and to bring the head back to where it belongs. In Ashbourne.

The town council will soon complete a new museum, and this seems the perfect place to store the controversial carving – but they become its custodians, or its owners?

In recent years, Ashbourne Town Council has been rather good at taking care of its assets. The town hall is looking better all the time, thanks to recent investments, Bradley Wood is well kept and the elderly person’s rest room will soon be replaced with a nice seating area.

So the gallows sign and the head would be in a safe pair of hands if it came back into the town’s ownership. Let’s face it, the district council, which has owned it for many years, has never paid it much attention.

The decision will ultimately be up to Derbyshire Dales District Council and, hopefully, next week, we’ll find out what they think of giving up the freehold.

Let’s hope a deal can be struck. It would be lovely to see the gallows sign renovated and preserved for future generations, even though it will always be missing its head.