Milepost in wall of 30 Hill Street, Newry, Co Down, BT34 1AR

This is a painted cast-iron milepost, likely dating from between 1860 and 1879. Hill Street in Newry was formerly part of the turnpike road connecting Belfast and Dublin, and the milepost indicates distances along this route, reading “Dublin 50 Dundalk 10 Banbridge 10”. It is embedded in the basal course of Dunne’s Store, at the junction of Hill Street and O’Hagan Street. The exposed face has a pointed head and measures 31cm wide by 41cm high.

An Ordnance Survey map from 1861 shows a milepost in this location. At that time, an uncovered mill race ran down what is now O’Hagan Street, and the post stood on the north side of the race where it emerged from beneath Hill Street. The mill race was covered over in the mid-1870s, and it is thought the milepost was repositioned to its current location near the shop, about a few yards to the south, around this time. The shop, known as the ‘Milestone Building,’ was built in 1879 by Arthur and James McCann, bakers. It was later taken over by John Quinn, who traded as "Quinns of the Milestone". The building is now occupied by Dunnes Stores.

The milepost is of industrial archaeological interest, and it is located within the Newry Conservation Area.