Milestone At Paynters Cross

PILLATON

1623/0/10009 OLD A388 10-APR-08 Milestone at Paynter's Cross

II Granite milestone of c.1764, rectangular ashlar post with rounded head. The incised lettering with serifs gives the distance to Callington: 4 1/2 C There is a small benchmark pin on the top of the stone.

HISTORY: The milestone is one of a series erected by the Callington Turnpike Trust which was established by an Act of Parliament in 1764. Eight routes were outlined in the Act, this one approaching Callington from Paynter's Cross to the south. Unusually, the distances on this route are measured in half miles, probably to enable alignment with the milestones erected by the Saltash Turnpike Trust, established in 1761.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: Milestones are of special interest as one of the few physical remains of national and local historic road use. They reflect the standardisation of roads and the introduction of turnpikes. This is one of a number of late C18 granite milestones erected by the Callington Turnpike Trust. The stone remains intact and in its original location. It also has group value with other listed mileposts on this route, as well as an adjacent group of C18 and C19 cottages, and should therefore be included on the list. SX3996864208