Milestone 24 on the west side of the A22, around 100m south of the junction with Byers Lane

Summary

A milestone of around 1840, marking 24 miles from London, on the former Eastbourne Road.

Reasons for Designation

Milestone 24 of around 1840, marking 24 miles from London, on the former Eastbourne Road is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
 
Architectural interest:
 
* as an example of a stone milestone of around 1840, retaining its original form and lettering.
 
Historic interest:
 
*  milestone 24 is an increasingly rare example of the many milestones that were erected to manage the operation of a network of independent C18 and C19 turnpikes, connecting London to the South Coast. 
 
Group value:
 
*  with the nine other Grade II-listed milestones on the route from London to Eastbourne, which collectively form a legible sequence, including examples of differing materials, styles and dates.

History

Milestones, along with mileposts and guideposts, are one of the most widespread forms of street furniture. Roads undergo such considerable alteration that they can be of particular note as testaments to the development of our transport network, and as reminders of the different perceptions of distance in a pre-motorised age. Milestones became prevalent in the mid-C18 when turnpike trusts were encouraged to provide such markers. Initially they were carved out of stone and a variety of forms are still evident around the country.
 
Many important routes across Surrey were created or enhanced in the C18 or C19 to facilitate longer-distance overland travel. New and improved roads required new infrastructure like bridges and causeways, as well as milestones to inform travellers of relevant distances. Most were created and maintained by turnpike trusts, bodies established by Acts of Parliament that collected tolls from road users. 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. The distances were also used to calculate postal charges before the uniform postal rate was introduced in 1840. At the height of the turnpike era, there were 20,000 miles of roads with milestones. Milestone 24 was probably erected by the Godstone and Highgate Turnpike Trust around 1840 as part of a series of trusts providing a route from London to Eastbourne and marks the distance to the Cornhill Standard in the City of London.
 
There are nine other Grade II-listed milestones on the London to Eastbourne route. Three stone examples further north dated 1744, another outside 362 Godstone Road, Kenley (around 15 miles from London) and two wooden examples at around 35 miles south-east of London. A further three in the sequence stand north and south of Milestone 24 (milestones 22, 23 and 25). Because of bypassing work over time, others may exist on what are now B roads.

Details

A milestone of around 1840, marking 24 miles from London, on the former Eastbourne Road.
 
MATERIALS: stone.
 
DESCRIPTION: the rectangular milestone stands on the west side of the A22 around 100m south of its junction with Byers Lane. The milestone is around 1m in height and 0.25m in width and depth. It is rough-hewn from a single piece of stone, has straight sides and a shallow, chamfered top. The visible face is inscribed towards the top and reads: 24 / MILES / FROM / CORNHILL. The top of the rear face has an ordnance survey mark.

Sources

Websites
Surrey History Centre, accessed 20 October 20 from https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/marvels/a-milestone-moment
The Milestone Society, accessed 2 November 2020 from https://www.milestonesociety.co.uk/about-milestones/

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