Milestone
MILESTONE, HIGH STREET
Bruton 8 Miles
< On the UC road, in the parish of MAIDEN BRADLEY WITH YARNFIELD. Entered on the Milestone Society database with National ID; WI_BNMB08The Milestone Society
Milestone: A milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile or occasionally, parts of a mile. They are typically located at the side of the road or in a median. They are alternatively known as mile markers, mileposts or mile posts (sometimes abbreviated MPs). Mileage is the distance along the road from a fixed commencement point.Wikipedia
Milestones & Waymarkers: ‘Milestone’ is a generic term, including mileposts made of cast iron. Such waymarkers are fast disappearing; around 9000 are thought to survive in the UK. Most were removed or defaced in World War II to baffle potential German invaders and not all were replaced afterwards. Many have been demolished as roads have been widened, or have been victims of collision damage, or have been smashed by hedge-cutters or flails. learn more
Restoring Milestones: As more became weathered or damaged, a slew of instructions in Turnpike Acts about 1820 insisted that milestones should be upgraded. By that time, iron was plentiful and cheap so there were plated stones. Sometimes the old stones were just turned round and the plates were fixed to the other side. It is exciting to find one of those with the incised lettering still legible. learn more
also see. . .
A Short History of English Waymarks
Wikipedia: Milestone
Maps
Views
NOTES
There's supposed to be another one nearby along the Frome road (but it may have been lost, for it's not to be found). A rather nice example we have here though, albeit a bit forlorn and unlisted by National Heritage. (Will try to rectify this surprising! omission by submitting a listing request to the powers that be.)
21-11-13