Milestone Approx 16M East Of The Weighbridge

The milestone dates from 1754 and was moved to its current location in 1828. It is a stone structure, painted white, rectangular in plan, and approximately 0.65m high, with a cambered head. The milestone is inscribed with the words FROM / TRURO / 8 / MILES, which are picked out in black paint, although the 's' in 'miles' is slightly misaligned. A benchmark and a pin are located on the top of the milestone.

From the 18th century onwards, turnpike trusts were encouraged to provide milestones and mileposts on the roads they operated. This milestone originates from the Truro Turnpike Trust, established in 1754, the first Turnpike Trust in Cornwall, and stood on the original road from Truro to Probus and Grampound. In 1828, a new, less steep route from Truro to Penhale, intended to link with the Bodmin Trust’s road to London, was planned. This new route used distinctive triangular milestones with cast-iron plates. Instead of replacing the original milestones, the four existing milestones on this section of road were moved to their equivalent positions on the new route; all four of these stones remain in place. The milestone is shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1880.

The milestone is designated at Grade II for its intactness as a milestone dating from 1754, and for its unusual relocation in 1828 when the turnpike road was re-routed, illustrating the wave of 18th-century road improvements undertaken by Turnpike Trusts. It also possesses group value with the other three similar stones on the re-routed section of the Truro to Grampound road.