Milestone Nw Of Overton End Farm

BIDDULPH

1915/0/10031 OVERTON ROAD 30-APR-08 Milestone NW of Overton End Farm

II A gritstone milestone of c.1770. It is triangular on plan with ramped corners at either side and this is believed to be a unique feature of milestones in the Biddulph area. Each roadside face reads "To" and "Miles". Ordnance Survey maps show that the stone formerly bore wording recording 9 miles to Macclesfield and 11 miles to Newcastle-under-Lyme which was defaced in 1940 as an official measure in case of invasion.

HISTORY: The milestone was erected by the Tunstall and Bosley Turnpike Trust. It was possibly formerly dated 1770

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION: The milestone at Overton Road, Biddulph Park, Biddulph is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * An example of a late C18 milestone, showing the expansion of the road network at a time prior to the 1773 general Turnpike Act, which made recording the mileage compulsory * The milestones on this route reflect the standardisation of roads and the introduction of turnpikes to facilitate the transport needs of the increasingly industrial landscape of C18 Staffordshire * The defacing of the stone in 1940 as a measure to counter invasion is itself significant * Group Value with other milestones along this turnpike road.