Building record 1471500000 - Milepost on A404

Summary

18th to 19th Century milepost or milestone on A404 in Whielden Lane Amersham

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Map

Type and Period (1)

  • MILEPOST (19th Century - 1800 AD to 1899 AD)

Description

Probable Eighteenth or Nineteenth century milepost or milestone on A404 in Amersham on Whielden Lane east of Amersham Hospital. Shown on curent OS on south side of road as Mile Post. Shown on 1835 OS 1" map (sheet XLIII). Inscription: Amersham 1 Wycombe 6. On Amersham to Hazelmere (F2) route. Recorded as not found. [Hatfield] Chenies to Henley - 'Gout Track'. Milepost number 6 on 1835 1" OS. [Handwritten notes consulted in HER] B1).
According to Peter Gullands extensive study of The Toll Roads of Buckinghamshire 1706- 1881 with their connections into neighbouring counties 2017. This was on The Reading and Hatfield Turnpike Road 1767 p.175 road 13. This was the longest turnpike road under a Buckinghamshire Trust 50 miles from Reading to Hatfield and 4 and half miles from Marlow bridge. It has disintegrated into several different roads. 22 and a half miles in Bucks now. According to PG The name 'gout track' is not supported by historical records as this name does not appear untill the 19th Century. Lord Salisbury and the Earl of Essex supplied land and Lord Cecil supplied mile markers and money. This route was taken over by the Turnpike Trust in 1767. The original mllestones are thin and tall with a domed top. 5 survive - 2 as gateposts at Terriers and and 2 as garden ornamentsi n Flackwell Heath one in Chalfont Open Air Museum from Little Chalfont. Possibly these milestones predate the Trust and were supplied by Lord Cecil then replaced by 50 new stones in 1777. Then in turn replaced by cast iron mileposts made by Wilder and Sons Reading in early 19th century all had the distance to Hatfield on top. This is one of 116 modern milestones and mileposts recorded from a possible 230 from historical records in Buckinghamshire. During WW2 milemarkers were removed throughout the county and sometimes not returned or were put back in wrong place. After the trusts closed in the 1880s or 1890s on some roads the missing milemarkers were gradually replaced by the Highway Authorities district or county or parish by metal posts that the Milestones Society calls Bucks Pressings. According to PG there a possible 230 milemarkers in Bucks from historical sources and this onef 116 moden records. Bucks Pressings are standardised wthh two white faces and black paint writing. [Copy in HER] (B2).

Sources (2)

  • <1>SBC24230 Unpublished document: Dr Gimson. Undated. Manuscript notes on milestones compiled by Dr Gimson. museum no 43 sheet XLIII pages 5+F.
  • <2>SBC24947 Bibliographic reference: Peter Gulland. 2017. The Toll Roads of Buckinghamshire 1706-1881: With their Connections into Neighbouring Counties. p.175 road 13.

Location

Grid reference SU 94646 96300 (point)
Civil Parish AMERSHAM, Chiltern, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Oct 1 2024 11:44AM

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