A ROCK an’ roll problem has left Forest of Dean historians stamping their feet.

Gifted a three ton rock by quarry owner Jon Tainton, of Mine Train Quarry, near Cannop, the Forest of Dean Local History Society has had it delivered to within 50 yards of its final resting place above one of the two shafts of the New Fancy Colliery, near Moseley Green.

The rock has now to be dressed before a plaque is fitted to tell the story of the New Fancy from its opening by Forest coal king Edward Protheroe in 1827 until its closure in 1944.

At its peak the long-lived pit employed 400 men.

Though New Fancy is a hugely popular area with visitors and the location of the highly regarded Geomap and the admired sculpture to honour those who worked in the Forest coal industry, there is nothing at the site to record its involvement with mining.

The society wants to place the rock near the colliery’s second shaft which has recently been made safe by the Coal Authority. Visitors can also see the remains of stonework and rusting mining related machinery nearby.

The project is being led by society committeeman Keith Walker and mining historian Ron Beard, of Cinderford, a former chairman of the society.

But they have hit a snag.

A society spokesman says: “Our distant ancestors built Stonehenge and the Egyptians managed the pyramids, but we can’t find a way to get our rock 50 yards to the pithead. Obviously the work can’t take place until later in the year when the ground is firm and dry, but at the moment the only machinery we can find lifts just a ton and a half.

“It’s a dilemma and we would be grateful to anyone who can help.”

•If you can roll a rock Keith Walker would be delighted to hear from you on Dean 843310.