Summary

A milestone dating from circa 1863.

Description

The milestone is rectangular on plan and has roughly hewn stone surfaces to the faces, with smoother carving at the corners. There is a recessed panel to the west face, which is nearly square and bears the number '6' in relief. The numeral has been painted black, whereas the rest of the stone is painted white. Above this is a pyramidal cap, with flat top.

History

The milestone stands on the western side of the present B3318, six miles from Penzance, on a turnpike road. This route was laid out in 1863, across Boscaswell Higher Downs, as an alternative to the former road which lay to the south and which led over the steep Dry Carn Hill. It provided a gentler route for the teams of four horses which had replaced pack mules and which were used to haul wagons for the mining industry on the North Cornwall coast. The Penzance and St Just Turnpike Trust was founded in 1863 to respond to the needs of local industry. There was a continuation Act in 1884 and the trust expired in November 1885. The B3318 splits into two on Woon Gumpus Common, passing either side of Heather Farm; one branch reaches the north coast road at Portherras, and the other, on which this milestone is situated, joins it at Trewallard. Both branches were provided with milestones marking the distance from Penzance.

Reasons for Listing

The milestone approximately 198m E of Wheal Bal Farm, St Just, is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: an intact milestone dating from 1863, which remains in its original position;
* Group value: with the other listed milestones along the Penzance to St Just turnpike route.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26675906

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)