Milestone Outside Pool Methodist Chapel

CARN BREA

1535/0/10065 AGAR ROAD 11-NOV-10 Milestone outside Pool Methodist Chapel

GV II DESCRIPTION: A milestone erected in the first half of the C18.

The roughly dressed granite pillar stands 1.33m high and is 0.32m square in section, tapering to a rounded top. The lower part of the stone is a modern granite replacement. The inscription is in bold relief up to 2.5cm proud of the surface. The northern face reads 26 / L and the east face 16 / P. The L refers to Lands End and the P to Penzance. A 4cm diameter hole in the western face suggests that the stone may have been re-used for another purpose at one time.

HISTORY: In the period before the Turnpike Trusts were set up from the middle of the C18, the roads in Cornwall were poor and were indeed little more than bridleways capable of carrying carts and coaches occasionally. Despite this, a small number of these routes were marked by milestones and in particular a string of stones leading from Mitchell, near Newquay, to Land's End are considered to represent a pre-turnpike route. A total of 17 milestones associated with this route are known to survive and although many have been altered, some, including this one, are believed to date to the first half of the C18. The road adjacent to this stone was incorporated into the turnpike system in 1825 when new milestones were erected. The stone was originally on the northern side of the road and was moved a short distance to its current location sometime after 1963.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The milestone outside Pool Methodist Chapel, Agar Road, Carn Brea, erected in the first half of the C18, is designated Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: the stone is a good example of a rare pre-turnpike milestone * Group interest: the stone forms part of a well defined pre-turnpike route which includes other designated examples. The milestone also stands outside a designated chapel.