Milestone Sw Of Bellasize Farm (Ngr Sx1371165156)

This milestone, located southwest of Bellasize Farm, dates from around 1834. It has a triangular shape with a flat top that slopes slightly towards the front. The milestone features incised lettering in Roman capitals alongside Arabic numerals, all painted black. The inscriptions appear on two dressed faces, reading 'L/71/2' and 'B/5'. Although the milestone is painted white, this paint has become discoloured and is partly worn away.

Historically, the Bodmin Turnpike Trust was established by an Act of Parliament in 1769, creating a route from Bodmin to Liskeard. In November 1834, plans were published for a new route along the Glynn valley, leading to the erection of nine milestones along this route. Of these, eight still survive, including this one.

The milestone is designated as Grade II for several reasons: it remains in its original location and is intact, and it serves as a good example of an early 19th-century milestone. It illustrates the standardisation of roads and the introduction of turnpikes, which were essential for meeting the transport needs of Cornwall's increasingly industrial landscape during that period.