Summary
A milestone of around 1744 marking 18 miles from Westminster Bridge, London, on the former Eastbourne Road.
Reasons for Designation
Milestone 19 of around 1744, marking 18 miles from Westminster Bridge, London, on the former Eastbourne Road is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* as a mid-C18 example of a stone milestone, retaining its original form and lettering.
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. 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 at a toll charge. 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 19 was erected by the Godstone and Highgate Turnpike Trust as part of a series of trusts providing a route from London to Eastbourne. It identifies the distance to Westminster Bridge (18 miles). The Ordnance Survey map of 1881 shows a milestone marking 18 miles to Westminster at milestone 19's location, although it has probably been moved a short distance to the east to allow for the dual carriageway to be built.
There are nine other Grade II-listed milestones on the London to Eastbourne route. Two stone milestones further south 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 four in the sequence stand further south of Milestone 19 (milestones 22-25). Because of bypassing work over time, others may exist on what are now B roads.
Details
A milestone of around 1744 marking 18 miles from Westminster Bridge, London, on the former Eastbourne Road.
MATERIALS: stone.
DESCRIPTION: the rectangular milestone stands on the east side of the A22 between a footbridge across the road and a lay-by. The milestone is around 1m in height and 0.25m in width. It is carved from a single piece of rough-hewn stone, has straight sides and terminates in a shallow, chamfered cap. Two faces are inscribed (north and south); both read : XVIII MILES FROM WESTMINSTER BRIDGE LONDON.
End of official list entry
