Milestone 400M Nw Of Westow Farm

This milestone, erected in 1830, stands 400 meters northwest of Westow Farm. It was designed by William McAdam and constructed by Benjamin Bowden for the Truro Turnpike Trust. The milestone is triangular in plan, approximately 0.58 meters high with a flat top, and made of granite. It features three iron plates cast by the Perran Foundry Company affixed to its faces. The plate on the front is inscribed "TRURO / 10 / FALMOUTH / 20 ½” in serif capitals, while the plate on the right side reads "BODMIN / 14 ¼ / LONDON 240” in sans serif capitals. The entire milestone, including the plates, is painted white with black lettering.

The milestone resulted from the Renewal Act of 1828, which prompted the Truro Turnpike Trustees to build a new road through Probus, Ladock, and St Enoder parishes. William McAdam, the Trust’s Surveyor, designed the route, which benefited from improved drainage methods he and his father, John Loudon McAdam, had developed. Records show that Benjamin Bowden was commissioned to create the triangular granite stones at a cost of 13 shillings each, later increased by 2 shillings. Perran Foundry was paid £11 2s 0d for the iron plates displaying distances and the milestone was originally painted white.

Historical records indicate that the distances shown to Bodmin were later inaccurate due to changes in planned road routes. Ordnance Survey maps reveal that the plates were not updated until after the Truro Turnpike Trust was dissolved in 1874. The route remained the main A39 until the 1990s when a new A39 was constructed, superseding the earlier Tresillian Valley Road. The milestone is designated at Grade II for its historic interest as a well-preserved example of a pre-1840 turnpike road marker, and for its intact condition in its original location.