Summary
A late C18 milestone erected by the Tunstall and Bosley Turnpike Trust.
Description
A late C18 milestone erected by the Tunstall and Bosley Turnpike Trust.
MATERIALS AND PLAN: the milestone is triangular on plan and is carved from local gritstone, suggested to have been sourced from the Bridestone quarry.
DESCRIPTION: the milestone is situated on the pavement side of the front boundary wall to 161 Congleton Road. It has notched shoulders and its road facing aspect is chamfered to create two gently angled faces. The inscription on both faces is very worn, and while there is some disagreement between sources, it is believed to read, ‘TO/ CONGLETON/ 3 1/2 MILES/ TO/ MACCLESFIELD/ 11 MILES/ TO/ NEWCASTLE/ 9 MILES’.
History
The road to Congleton through Biddulph was turnpiked in 1770 and milestones were erected along this route by the Turnpike Trusts for New Biddulph and Tunstall to Bosley. These are suggested to have been erected before 1800 and are all carved in the same style, which is believed to be unique to this locality.
The milestone to the front of 161 Congleton Road was erected by the Tunstall to Bosley Turnpike Trust. It is suggested to be the only survivor of a set of milestones running north to Biddulph from Newcastle under Lyme.
In 2004 the milestone was removed from its original position, on the roadside in front of 157 Congleton Road, to make way for a driveway. It was replaced in front of the boundary wall to 161 Congleton Road in 2007.
Reasons for Listing
The Milestone in front of 161 Congleton Road, Biddulph is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural Interest:
* As a well-executed milestone, carved in an unusual design specific to this area of Staffordshire.
Historic Interest:
* As an example of a late C18 milestone, demonstrating the expansion and standardisation of the road network in Staffordshire around the time of the General Turnpike Act of 1773, when the recording of mileage was made compulsory.
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
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)