Milestone, Hillsborough Road, Lisburn, BT28 1JP

This is a mid-Victorian cast iron milepost, likely dating from the 1860s to the 1870s. It is a good example of the type that was once common along roads throughout the province, but which are now rare due to road widening, traffic impacts, and theft. Each post was uniquely cast, with legends indicating the mileage to the next main settlement from the former General Post Office in Royal Avenue, Belfast. The distances are shown in both whole and quarter-mile divisions, reflecting the slower pace of travel by foot and horse.

The milepost is painted white, with bas-relief edges and black lettering. It has a ‘V’ cross-section and a raking triangular top, measuring 48.5cms wide. The faces display the following information: “Hillsbro 3 1/4” at the top, “Belfast 9 miles” on the right hand face, and “Lisburn 3/4 mile” on the left hand face. It is located in an urban setting on the footpath, alongside the boundary wall of Woodgrove Care Home, on the Hillsborough Road, just south of Lagan Valley Regional Hospital. The milepost was first marked on the Ordnance Survey map of 1902. It is of industrial archaeological interest and demonstrates social, cultural, economic, local, and historical importance due to its rarity and authenticity.