Monument record 7376/1/1 - Milestone (London 71), west side of London Road

Milestone on Thomas Telford's Holyhead Road, dating from 1832-33. The milestone has straight parallel sides and finishes in a shallow pointed head. The cast iron panel, which bears the Tarver foundry mark, is recessed into the front and also has a pointed head. It reads: LONDON 71/ DAVENTRY/ ½/ TOWCESTER/ 11½/ MILES.

{1} No details of exact location. The stone is dressed front and sides but rough hewn to rear. The cast iron plate, by Tarver's foundry, Daventry is approximately 0.6m x 0.5m. It shows distances to London (71 miles), Daventry (0.5 miles) and Towcester (11.5 miles). Interesting survival of one of the few remaining old Northamptonshire milestones.

{3} Photo. Grid reference SP57576178.

{5} The milestone on London Road in Daventry was placed in 1832-33. The stone conforms to the dimensions of Telford’s original design but is pink granite rather than the Anglesey limestone. The cast iron plate is a smaller size than the original design, and has parallel sides as opposed to the batter of the original Telford plates. It retains the original plate, bearing the mark of the Tarver foundry which belonged to Nathaniel Tarver on Sheaf Street in Daventry, itself originally on the London to Holyhead road, and a short distance to the north of this milestone.

<1> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, NIAG Industrial Gazetteer, (unchecked) (Draft). SNN101121.

<2> HIstoric England, 2020, Consultation report: Milestone (London 71) on London Road, Daventry (Designation Advice Report). SNN111929.

<3> Milestone Society, 2005, Milestone Society Repository, NR_LH71 (Website). SNN111215.

<4> Elis-Williams, D, 2018-9, Thomas Telford's Milestones (Article). SNN111984.

<5> Historic England, 2020, Milestone (London 71) on London Road, Daventry (Designation Advice Report). SNN111985.

Record last edited

Jun 16 2020 9:54AM