Finger Post at Gammaton Cross

Gammaton Cross, Gammaton Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4QE

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

Overview

Finger post, thought to date from the 1880s. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1460098
Date first listed:: 05-Feb-2019
List Entry Name:: Finger Post at Gammaton Cross
Statutory Address:: Gammaton Cross, Gammaton Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4QE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1460098
Date first listed:: 05-Feb-2019
List Entry Name:: Finger Post at Gammaton Cross
Location Description:: NGR: SS4904624466
Statutory Address 1:: Gammaton Cross, Gammaton Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4QE

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:: Gammaton Cross, Gammaton Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4QE

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

County:: Devon
District:: Torridge (District Authority)
Parish:: Bideford
National Grid Reference:: SS4904624466

Summary

Finger post, thought to date from the 1880s.

Reasons for Designation

The finger post at Gammaton Cross, thought to date from the 1880s, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* for its intrinsic interest as an example of a cast iron finger post with four direction arms and good quality detailing.

Historic interest:

* as an example of an increasingly rare survival of a once-common type of street furniture.

History

Legislation was enacted in 1697 which enabled magistrates to place 'direction posts at cross-highways'; the earliest surviving example is believed to be Joseph Izod's post of 1669 in the Cotswolds. In 1773 the General Turnpike Act required trustees to erect signs informing travellers of the distance to the nearest town, and often to London. After the Local Government Act of 1888 which established county councils, many finger posts were erected throughout the country of varying designs. The Motor Car Act 1903 passed responsibility for the provision of all traffic signs to local authorities.

The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1887 depicts a guide (finger) post at the cross roads at Gammaton. The existing post may be the original, or it may be a slightly later replacement, as its style is more akin to later examples.

Details

Finger post, thought to date from the 1880s.

MATERIAL: cast iron.

DESCRIPTION: the finger post is situated at the cross roads at Gammaton, and stands on the verge on the west side of the cross.

The post is circular and has 'GAMMATON CROSS' down its shaft. It has four posts which point to Newton Tracey, Bideford, Torrington and Horwood, with the respective distances to each in miles. The post pointing to Newton Tracey has been damaged. The finger post is surmounted by a pyramidal finial, which bears the letter B, which may stand for Bideford Parish.

Sources

Other
First Edition Ordnance Survey of 1887

Legal

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