Famous for its pies and Northern Soul, former mining town Wigan could also be home to the legendary Camelot, according to an an eminent historian.

Graham Robb says a small patch of woodland in a suburb of Standish could have been home to a settlement linked to the legendary King Arthur.

Manchester-born Robb, 55, a distinguished historian who has picked up a string of literary prizes and whose work has been hailed by the New York Times, has spent years studying Celtic civilisations in Europe.

The former Oxford don claims that Ancient Britons as well as Celtic people living in France and Spain were far more sophisticated than previously thought.

His book The Discovery of Middle Earth: Mapping the Lost World looks at how ancient people built many towns and settlements along straight lines based on the setting, solstice sun.

Mr Robb says two of Britain’s most important lines intersect just off Old Pepper Lane - yards away from a heart-shaped lake and thick woodlands near Almond Brook.

Ironically, the site is just four miles away from now-closed theme park Camelot. Founders of the attraction, which closed two years ago, chose the site due to the area’s connection.

But speaking to the M.E.N, Mr Robb added that he did not believe much of the mythology surrounding King Arthur.

He said: “Arthur could have been one person or several people. It’s likely like Caesar or Napoleon, it was a name given to a number of heroic people.

“It wasn’t until the 10th century that Geoffrey Monmouth - who was the 10th century’s JK Rowling - rolled all these stories together.

“Where these solstice lines cross is at the edge of a now lost freshwater lake and there is a local Lancashire legend that it is where King Arthur was put to rest. I was stunned to find out there was a theme park called ‘Camelot’ nearby.”

He added it was more likely that the site had been of religious or cultural significance to the Celtic people and later Roman visitors but was later overtaken by Arthurian legend.

“The north west of England from North Cheshire to the Scottish Border is strongly linked to Arthur’s legend.

“It’s likely that buildings and monuments of interest were later renamed in line with this later myth.”

His findings have been seized upon by campaigners fighting to stop a new road being built through the Wigan council-owned beauty spot.

Local residents, who are fighting plans to build the Almond Brook Link Road, said they were stunned by the surprise find.

One resident: “This area needs a investigation to see if there is anything in these claims. It is a compelling story. We just need a white knight to come along and help us save it from this development.”

“Wigan Council should be embracing its links with the distant past and King Arthur and not ripping them up.”

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