Latitude: 51.2986 / 51°17'54"N
Longitude: 0.4369 / 0°26'12"E
OS Eastings: 569987
OS Northings: 158314
OS Grid: TQ699583
Mapcode National: GBR NPD.H9J
Mapcode Global: VHJM5.JMBC
Plus Code: 9F327CXP+CQ
Entry Name: Milepost at NGR TQ6998558314
Listing Date: 6 July 2009
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1393350
English Heritage Legacy ID: 505941
ID on this website: 101393350
Location: Larkfield, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, ME20
County: Kent
District: Tonbridge and Malling
Civil Parish: East Malling and Larkfield
Built-Up Area: Ditton
Traditional County: Kent
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Kent
Church of England Parish: Larkfield Holy Trinity
Church of England Diocese: Rochester
Tagged with: Milestone
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 16 April 2021 to reformat the text to current standards
1347/0/10026
EAST MALLING AND LARKFIELD
Larkfield
LONDON ROAD (north side)
Milepost at NGR TQ6998558314
06-JUL-09
II
Cast-iron milepost attached to earlier milestone. Probably early to mid C19.
DESCRIPTION: V-section, white painted, cast-iron milepost attached to similarly painted earlier milestone. On the head of the milepost, parallel to the road, the legend, in black-painted relief, reads 'To/LONDON/30/East Malling'. Below this on the right (east facing) angle the legend reads 'WROTHAM/6' and on the left (west facing) 'MAIDSTONE/4'.
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 along them became prevalent in the mid C18 when turnpike trusts were encouraged to provide them, the 1744 Turnpike Act supposedly making the provision compulsory on most turnpike roads.
This cast-iron milepost at Larkfield on the road from London to Folkestone and Dover appears in its current position on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1862 and is probably therefore in its original location. This part of the road was turnpiked between 1750 and 1780 and there was a toll house at Larkfield, reportedly demolished in the 1960s. As it is attached to an earlier milestone the cast-iron milepost is probably from the early to mid C19 although it is hard to date exactly.
A nearly identical milepost (Grade II listed - 179382) survives two miles closer to London on this stretch of the road at Ryarsh and a damaged example reportedly survives to the east in Ditton.
The milepost in Larkfield on the London Road (A20) at NGR TQ6998558314 is designated for the following principal reasons:
* As a well-surviving example of a probably early-C19, cast-iron milepost attached to an earlier milestone;
* An identical milepost on this road, two miles nearer to London, is currently listed;
* The development of the national transport system, particularly of the turnpike system, and a reminder of the different perceptions of distance in the pre-motorised age.
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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