Summary
A milestone on the Leicester to Ashby turnpike road (operational from 1753 to 1874) and probably of C18 date with a C19 plate.
Description
Milestone on the former Ashby to Leicester turnpike road, probably of C18 date with an iron plate added in the C19.
MATERIALS: stone with a cast-iron plate.
DESCRIPTION: the milestone stands on the south side of Ashby Road. It comprises a stone slab with rounded top and cast-iron plate. The plate is painted black with raised lettering picked out in white paint that reads: TO/ ASHBY/ DELAZOUCH/ 3/ TO/ LEICESTER/ 14. A triangulation benchmark is inscribed into the face of the milestone below the plate.
History
Turnpike roads, which levied tolls from travellers to finance road improvements, were established in the 1660s, but the main period of growth took place in the next century. Turnpike trusts were authorised by Acts of Parliament to build, maintain and operate the toll roads and the first to be set up in Leicestershire were the Loughborough to Leicester and the Harborough to Leicester Trusts in 1726. The turnpike road running from Leicester to Ashby was established in 1753 and was in operation until 1874.
Milestones are marked on the route of the turnpike on John Prior’s 1777 Map of Leicestershire, including at this location, which is marked ‘14’ to denote its distance in miles from the City of Leicester. This milestone probably dates from the C18, although the cast-iron plate is likely to be a C19 addition, and it is shown at this location on the First Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1883.
Reasons for Listing
The milestone approximately 120 metres south east of Alton Lodge, Leicestershire, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* for its use of good quality stone and cast-iron to display the lettering.
Historic interest:
* for its association with the development of a major transport route in the C18 from Leicester to Ashby.
Group value:
* with the other original milestones along this route.
External Links
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.
Recommended Books
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living