Milepost on A20 London Road at Ditton, Kent

476 London Road, Ditton, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, ME20 6BZ

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Early to mid-C19 cast-iron milepost attached to an earlier milestone. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1404161
Date first listed:: 25-Oct-2011
List Entry Name:: Milepost on A20 London Road at Ditton, Kent
Statutory Address:: 476 London Road, Ditton, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, ME20 6BZ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1404161
Date first listed:: 25-Oct-2011
List Entry Name:: Milepost on A20 London Road at Ditton, Kent
Location Description:: NGR TQ7155158319
Statutory Address 1:: 476 London Road, Ditton, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, ME20 6BZ

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: 476 London Road, Ditton, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, ME20 6BZ

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Kent
District:: Tonbridge and Malling (District Authority)
Parish:: Ditton
National Grid Reference:: TQ7155158319

Summary

Early to mid-C19 cast-iron milepost attached to an earlier milestone.

Reasons for Designation

The milestone, situated on the A20 immediately south of No 476 London Road at Ditton, Kent is designated for the following principal reasons: * Architectural Interest: a well-preserved example of a cast-iron milepost, probably early-C19 in date, attached to an earlier milestone; * Historic Interest: as testament to the development of the national transport system, particularly of the turnpike system, and as a reminder of the different perceptions of distance in the pre-motor age. * Group Value: one of a group of which two near-identical mileposts, each listed at Grade II, survive on this stretch of road at Ryarsh (NGR TQ6687058643) and at Larkfield (NGR TQ6998558314).

History

From the late C17 to the mid-C18 many turnpike trusts were established along roads connecting London with major provincial cities and ports. Milestones became prevalent in the mid-C18 when turnpike trusts were encouraged to provide them, the 1744 Turnpike Act making their provision compulsory on most turnpike roads.

It is thought that this part of the road from London to Folkestone and Dover, at Ditton, became a turnpike between 1750 and 1780. This cast-iron milepost is a remodelling of an earlier stone milestone. It appears in its current position on the Ordnance Survey map of 1869 and, therefore, is probably in its original location.

Details

A V-section, white painted, cast-iron milestone, dating from the early to mid-C19 that is attached to an earlier painted milestone. On the head of the milepost, parallel to the road, the legend, in black-painted relief, reads 'To/LONDON/31/Ditton'. Below this on the east-facing angle the legend reads 'WROTHAM/7' and on the west face 'MAIDSTONE/3'.

Sources

Books and journals
Wright, G, Turnpike Roads, (1992)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.