GUIDESTONE AT WOODA CROSS (NGR SX1379456015)

ST VEEP

426/0/10009 Guidestone at Wooda Cross (NGR SX13794 07-JAN-09 56015)

GV II DESCRIPTION The guidestone, c1697, is square in plan and carved from granite. It stands approximately 65cm high. It is located on the verge at Wooda Cross road junction and inscriptions on three faces indicate directions to Manely, Fowey and Lostwithiel. Later mileages have been painted below the place names in black lettering. There is also a benchmark with a metal pin above it at the top of the Fowey face. The inscription reads:'MANALE 1/2; FOWEY StVEE; LOSTL1/2'. HISTORY In 1697, under Acts of Parliament, Justices in Highway Sessions were authorised to require the Surveyors of Highways to set up direction stones or posts at crossways. The guidestone at Wooda Cross is the result of this requirement. This is the south coast route shown on Ogilby's map of 1675. There was never a turnpike road in this area, rather there was a post road used by mounted post boys before the introduction of mail coaches. There are a group of guideposts and milestones along this route, of which this example forms a part. It marked a route across the river Fowey which avoided the use of the ferry. A guidestone does not show distance, it merely indicates direction, as is the case here, although at a later date distances in miles have been painted onto the guidestone.

The guidestone at Wooda Cross should be listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * It is a C17 guidestone. * It is intact and stands in its original location. * It compares well and has group value with other nearby listed waymarkers.