Building record 0118203000 - Obelisk in Marlow

Grade II. Stone obelisk erected in 1822 by the Trustees of the Reading and Hatfield Road. Acts as a mile stone and sign post with directions on each side of base. (B1).
Set in mini roundabout on A4155 in Marlow. Approx 15 feet high, with square base 41 inches high and 30 inches deep. Clear inscriptions picked out in black on the 4 faces. (Drawing 8): 'MAIDENHEAD 5 READING 14 LONDON 32 BATH 80: (Drawing 9): WYCOMBE 5 AYLESBURY 22 OXFORD by Stokenchurch 25 HATFIELD 56: (Drawing 10): ERECTED by the trustees of the READING AND HATFIELD ROAD September 1822: (Drawing 11): HENLEY 71/2 READING 15 OXFORD by Henley 30 ABINGDON 28'. [Drawings, location map and photographs] (B2).
Recorded as present on Milestones Society updated website in 2002 on Reading to Marlow route National ID number BU_RGHT15. Inscription as above: ' letters nearest road level are eroding'. Dated 1822 from other sources. In centre of A4155. Width 75cm, depth 76cm, height 450cm. [Detailed description, location and photograph] (B3).
Marked on 1835 1-inch OS map. [Hatfield] Chenies to Henley - 'Gout Track'. Obelisk in Marlow High Street - illustrated. Lord Salisbury's Gout Track, 1961 (B4).
On road 13, the Reading and Hatfield Turnpike Road of 1767. One of 116 out of a possible 230 milestones/mileposts in Bucks. The Trust's branch road from Marlow to the Bath road at Knowl Hill crossed a wooden bridge at the bottom of St Peter's Street Marlow. In 1829 a private act authorised the construction of a replacement bridge (the present one at the foot of the High Street); the Turnpike Trust contributed £600 towards this link road which was opened in 1832. 'Gout track' is not a historic title as there is no evidence of this name being used for this routre until the 20th century and there are shorter routes. Orginal milemarkers on this route were tall thin stones with curved tops; they may predate the Trust and maybe were put up by Lord Cecil. One survives in Chiltern Open Air Museum two gatepostsin at Flackwel Hesath and two others in a garden at Terrick (B5).