The Milestones and Way Markers of Essex

When this website was first being put together (summer 2002), a survey of Essex milestones is still underway. By October one hundred and sixteen (116) milestones and mileposts were identified as remaining in the county and less than half have Grade II listed status. It was believed that this would be the final total but almost a year later new examples continue still come to light. Over one hundred and thirty (130) have now been located. As items that had virtually outlived their reason for existence by the opening of the 20th century, it is amazing that so many do survive. The demise of the turnpikes in the mid 1800s (The Hadleigh Trust folded as early as 1820) meant that many stones were abandoned and sometimes robbed out for use elsewhere. Road improvements in the 1920s and 1930s probably caused the further loss of many stones. Further losses can be blamed on the Second World War when, in 1940 with the possibility of an invasion, all milestones, mile plates and guide posts were removed, buried or defaced. Many were never replaced once the invasion threat had passed. Since the Second World War further losses have occurred, partly through further road redevelopments. The humble milestone is easy prey for the giant machinery used in road building. Unfortunately mile plates (cast iron milestones also known as mileposts) are sometimes targeted by thieves.

If you see a milestone or milepost for sale or offered one for purchase, be sure to check its provenance. If no provenance can be shown is it very possible that the article is stolen and should be reported to the police.

The following Essex pages (index below) are laid out in either specific routes or geographic areas. Not all routes would have been turnpike roads although they may have had milestones. Some routes are speculative, based mainly on old maps or other published sources such as the John Ogilby "strip" maps 1675, the excellent map of Essex by Chapman and Andre 1777 to a scale of 2 inches to 1 mile, the county maps of John Cary and various road books such as Paterson's Roads and Cary's Itinerary. See also the "Country Sixty Five Miles Round London" map of John Andrews and Andrew Dury 1776-77, The Essex map by Charles and John Greenwood 1824 and a map of the Essex Trust by Edward Baker 1815.

Click here for complete table of surviving Essex milestones (To be updated periodically)

A Milestone Map of Essex by Peter Nelson.

An excellent outline map of Essex developed by Peter Nelson during 2003/2004 showing locations of all surviving milestones and likely positions of markers now lost. Also locations of tollgates. Large download but worth the wait.