For many months I have been researching the history of the nationally unique series of tall cast iron mileposts along the former Stratford on Avon to Long Compton Turnpike. There are six survivors, and a plan is in hand to get them restored. However, despite reading the surviving Minute Books and Accounts Books of the Trust, which are in the Warwickshire County Record Archive, and other records in the Worcester Archive, I have not been able to find when they were installed or by whom, or who made them. There are no casting marks that are visible.
Dating the posts
Stylistically the posts have been dated by the Victoria & Albert Museum to 1810-1840, from the acanthus leaf decoration in the castings. I was instrumental in getting the survivor at Little Wolford (almost complete) listed by English Heritage, and they added in their listing that it was installed “c. 1825”. When I asked for their source they gave me the Act of 1825 extending the Turnpike over a new road from Little Compton to Chapel House Inn. When I consulted the Act, I found it does not mention milestones or mileposts anywhere! So, ideas please! I have added a photo of a survivor which it is hoped to re-install at Long Compton.
Comments
I thought people might be interested in what happens next.
The Milestone Society secured funding from Heritage Lottery Fund to begin the newest project Finding the Way. The funding for this project will go towards restoring these historic mileposts as well as develop educational resources and allow us to create a number of exhibitions to display the restoration progress, attend events and even launch a poetry competition!
An article about the history of the Turnpike and its nationally unique mileposts has been published in the Summer Edition of the Journal of the Warwickshire Local History Society.
I was very interested to see this article about the mileposts. We have been able to find the correct position of the old ‘Bow Bells’ mile markers running through East Sussex by using the NLS ‘Side by Side’ website which uses old maps and modern maps side by side. The original locations were lost because the mile markers had been removed during the war years to confuse any enemy invasion.
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