Milestone Nw Of Overton End Farm

The milestone northwest of Overton End Farm is a gritstone structure dating from around 1770. It has a triangular shape with ramped corners on either side, which is believed to be a unique feature of milestones in the Biddulph area. Each roadside face is inscribed with the words "To" and "Miles." Historical Ordnance Survey maps indicate that the stone originally displayed distances of 9 miles to Macclesfield and 11 miles to Newcastle-under-Lyme, but this wording was defaced in 1940 as a precautionary measure during the threat of invasion.

This milestone was erected by the Tunstall and Bosley Turnpike Trust and is possibly dated 1770. It is significant as an example of a late 18th-century milestone, reflecting the expansion of the road network before the 1773 general Turnpike Act, which mandated the recording of mileage. The milestones along this route illustrate the standardization of roads and the introduction of turnpikes to support the transport needs of the increasingly industrial landscape of 18th-century Staffordshire. The defacement of the stone in 1940 adds historical importance, and it holds group value with other milestones along this turnpike road.