Summary

A coal duty marker dating to around 1861. It is a stone post about 4m in height.

Description

A coal duty marker dating to around 1861.

MATERIALS: the obelisk is made of stone on a moulded plinth.

DESCRIPTION: a post formed of stone about 4m high. A tapered shaft rising from a wider tapered base of about 900mm. The base is often inscribed with '14 & 15 VIC C 146' and/or a full coat of arms of the City of London with supporting beasts and motto.

History

This City of London coal duty marker is one of a remaining ring of posts which were erected in a 20-25 mile radius of the City of London. They were used to demarcate the boundary where duty was to be paid as per the London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Act 1861. They are strategically located where the boundary lay and at vital entry points often on roads, but also railways and canals. This ensured that no one could claim ignorance of their liability for the duties.  

Taxes had been levied on the importation of coal into the City of London since the medieval period and various successive Acts of Parliament allowed the City to spend the proceeds on public works. The Act has its origins in the 1667 First Rebuilding Act which raised a duty of one shilling per chaldron of coal to help fund the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666. This was collected via the Port of London as coal came by sea and the Thames to London from Newcastle. Further financial difficulties caused by Charles II's borrowing of money from the Corporation of London led to the passing of the Act for the Relief of Orphans and of the Creditors of the City of London in 1694. This authorised a duty of 4 shillings per tun on wine brought into the Port of London as well as further fees and duties on coal. 

By the mid-C19 coal began to be brought into London by road, canal and rail as well as by sea. To continue to collect duties posts were erected around London in an irregular circle indicating where these were due. In 1861 the London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Act was passed, at which point the boundaries were brought in line with the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District, and in 1862 the duties were transferred to the Metropolitan Board of Works. This change in area required the erection of new boundary markers and around 280 standardised cast-iron markers were installed to mark it. Larger stone obelisk markers were erected by the railways that were opened before 1865. The tax continued until 1891 when the Corporation of London relinquished its rights to collected tolls on wine and coal. 

The coal duty marker approximately 85m south-west of Theydon Park Road and is positioned on the eastern embankment of the railway. The obelisk is shown at its present location on the 1868 Ordnance Survey (OS) map.

Reasons for Listing

The coal duty boundary post on railway embankment approximately 85m south-east of Theydon Park Road is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest: 

*     as a distinctive marker, which retains its form and original detailing.  

Historic interest: 

* as a tangible reminder of the tax on coal imported into London as well as the position of the Metropolitan Police District boundary in 1862.

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