The Romans first introduced milestones into the UK and 117 of these still survive. They marked their roads every thousand (mille) double-steps to aid timing and efficiency – hence our mile. After many centuries of decline, a 1555 Act of Parliament made local parishes responsible for road up-keep and so markers became important once again. From 1706, turnpike trusts were set up enabling road charges to be imposed. The Chippenham Roads Trust dates from 1726. From 1767, mileposts were compulsory on all turnpikes, not only to inform travellers of direction and distances, but to help coaches keep to schedule and for charging for changes of horses at the coaching inns. At the height of the turnpike era, there were 20,000 miles of roads with milestones. From the 1840s, however rail travel overtook road for longer journeys and many turnpike trusts were wound up (Chippenham’s lasted until 1870). Finally in 1888, the new County Councils were given responsibility for main roads and rural district councils for minor routes. Around 9000 mileposts are thought to survive in the UK. Most however were removed or defaced in World War II to baffle potential German invaders and not all were replaced afterwards.
This milestone is on the old London to Bristol Road. Chippenham having won the battle against Lacock and Melksham for the main road over the Avon. John Obilby’s Britannia (1675) shows this route. and Chippenham’s primacy was further enhanced when the new town bridge (now replaced) was built in 1796.
An example of what the milestone should look like is a mile up the road towards Marshfield and Bristol opposite the garage. Both these milestones are thought to date from the mid C19 and both are Grade II listed.
This is a busy road so please be mindful of the traffic. I would not recommend parking directly on the road itself. Apologies but the hiding place means that the cache is not easily accessible to children or wheelchair access although the milepost itself can be viewed by all.
For more information visit the milestone society website .
Congratulations to the Coleys achieving their First, First to Find and finding the First To Find Smurf