Some Bedfordshire Milestones     

Although the all important Great North Road passes through the County, very few milestones now remain in Bedfordshire.  An impressive obelisk [picture right] in the middle of Ampthill erected by the Earl of Upper Ossory in 1785 gives distances to London [45 miles], Dunstable [12 miles], Bedford [8 miles] and Woburn [7 miles].  Apart from that, the remaining milestones in the County are either along the A1 Great North Road or along the B1040 road from Biggleswade to Somersham.  This selection of Bedfordshire milestone pictures was supplied by Mike Hallett, a member of The Milestone Society. 

Route:  GREAT NORTH ROAD

A1

On its route North from London, the Great North Road enters Bedfordshire at Stotfold just outside Baldock.

It continues through Biggleswade and Sandy until it enters Huntingdonshire [now a part of Cambridge-shire] at St. Neots

The Stevenage-Biggleswade turnpike was enacted in 1720 The Biggleswade-Alconbury tunpike was enacted five years later in 1725.

NGR TL 2137 4097

42 miles from London

Bleak Hall, South of Biggleswade

NGR TL 2004 4393

44 miles from London

London Road, Stratton, Biggleswade

NGR TL 1884 4469

45 miles from London

Shortmead Street, Biggleswade

NGR TL 163 487

48¼ miles from London

On the B658 near Sandy

In 2000 the Royal Bank of Scotland sponsored many mileposts along the National Cycle Route.  But this milestone is a much earlier monument to F.T.Bidlake, an ardent campaigner for cyclists on the Great North Road

NGR TL 1623 5320

51 miles from London

Church Street, Tempsford

Recently restored

NGR TL 1602 5478

52 miles from London

North of Tempsford Bridge at Roxton

   The next milestone still existing on this route is at Eaton Socon in Huntingdonshire

Route:  B1040

For most of its length, this road runs through Huntingdonshire [now part of Cambridgeshire], although it starts at Biggleswade in Bedfordshire.  Milestones of a similar design can be found along much of this cross-country route to Somersham

NGR TL 1974 4540

1 mile from Biggleswade

Potton Road, Biggleswade

NGR TL 2237 4914

Market Square, Potton

   The next milestone still existing on this route is at Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire