Z to A - The Fallen & Broken Milestones Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it. Please note that as this cache has now been archived by a reviewer or HQ staff it will NOT be unarchived.

Regards

Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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Hidden : 1/3/2014
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The remains of two unloved milestones besides the old London to Bath and Bristol Road.

The Trailhead marks the site of the Fallen Milestone. This milestone originally had a cast iron plaque that read "To Bath 16". Sadly it has now been toppled and the plaque has been lost. Despite this it is in the better condition of the two...

Note after writing to the Council this milestone has now been re-sited. A classic cut mark and a rivet on the top shows where it was used by the Ordnance Survey as a benchmark.

The cache itself is hidden at the next milestone in the sequence. The Broken Milestone, which is at the published co-ordinates. Exactly what remains of this milestone is uncertain as so little of it is visible. Without the existing record (and the obvious gap in the sequence) it would almost certainly be lost.

Both milestones are in desperate need of some TLC. It is surprising to learn therefore that both (like others in the series) are Grade II listed. Like the trailhead, this milestone would at some point have had a metal plaque reading "To Bath 15". Both marked the London to Bath and Bristol road in the stretch between Calne and Chippenham.

The stretch between Studley (near Calne) and Pickwick (near Corsham) was maintained by the Chippenham turnpike trust established in 1727. The main road originally turned off after the Soho Inn (when travelling from London) to go though the Derry Hill and join the Devizes road, before descending down towards the Lysley Arms. The "new road" avoiding Derry Hill was built between 1787 and 1810 with funds from the turnpike trust, during which time the new bridge at Chippenham was completed (1796).

This marked the effective end of the rivalry between Chippenham and Lacock / Melksham for the main road to Bath, including a propaganda war between the innkeepers and tollgate keepers over the best route.

In 1745-6 advertisements in the Bath Journal noted "This [the Chippenham Road] is also the nearest and the Post road, and during the summer season will be rendered more than pleasant by the use of the Stanley and Studley commons, by which the length of way will be considerable shortened, and coaches, etc may keep the turf for 4 or 5 miles together. On this road also are the most convenient watering places every two or three miles throughout the whole, advantages it is known the Sandy Lane has not. NB Gentlemen travelling the two roads either in carriages or horseback are desired to mark differences from their watches in point of time"

and

"Whereas it has been found that the two turnpike keepers of Beckhampton (Avebury) and Pickwick have falsely and maliciously represented this [Chippenham] road as being in bad condition and greatly inferior to that of Sandy Lane. This is to inform the publick that this road is in the best repair imaginable and Gentlemen who have not already travelled it are desired to judge for themselves."

The nearby Lysley Arms is names after the former Liberal MP for Chippenham (from 1859 to 1865) William John Lysley who lived in Pewsham. The Inn was formerly known as the Swan.

Towards Chippenham the road passes over the route of the old Wilts and Berks Canal which opened in 1810.

There is lots of interesting and useful information about milestones to be found on the Milestone Society website.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Unatvat sebz gur urqtr nobir gur fgbar. Gnxr pner bs gubeaf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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