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Guidepost Top and Finial Types Found in Essex The finials can be used to identify the locality of the post or local authority. But they also served a more basic purpose. As the ingress of water from rain into the interior of the post could lead to accelerated rust erosion, the placing of a finial over the open top went some way to preserving the post interior. |
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Roundel or disc |
The disc type usually have the parish name arranged around the outer ring and the local authority name in the centre. Examples have only been found in a cluster at Ingatestone, Stock and Hutton. |
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| Pierced roundel, halo, ring or annulus | The halo normally has dimensions slightly larger than the disc type. Parish name around the top and the county authority below. With the exception of the Herongate post, all remaining examples of this type in Essex seem to have been made by Stantons. |
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| Semi-circular or half moon | The outer parish legend
follows a common pattern. The centre legend comes in several
versions, including, as in this example at Loughton, 'E.C.C. / STICK NO
BILLS'.
A variation has an oval in the centre with E.C.C. To date only two of this type have been discovered. The example shown here has probably been reused as it now sits on top a recent wooden post. |
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| Modified semi-circular on bar | Only noted at Ulting. This may be a later replacement as lettered finials are not normally placed on short posts. |
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| Conical | Very common. A simple but functional design. Found painted either white or black. |
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| Cap | As a type, the cap seems to be rare. Very functional for keeping rain out of the post. They may be later replacements for missing or broken finials. |
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