In our house, more than one is a collection. What starts as an innocent acquisition is joined by one other, similar; and then a third. Before one knows it there is 'a collection'. As you know the Glam.Ass. is collecting money, little 'silver joeys' - although he tells me he's not going to buy any more. That is not quite the truth I think. He was spotted cruising eBay, studying 11/2d coins. No, I didn't know they existed either, or if they have a name. Three'apenth perhaps.Me? At present I am collecting milestones, those way-markers that marked the miles on the old Turnpike roads. I keep them as knowledge in my head, a bit more information about things which went before and forged the landscape. I don't have to bring them home or house and dust them. This is a Good Thing.
This is the one, first spotted by D as part of her research into the Bishops Castle Turnpike Trust of 1768, that sparked my interest:
Not a thing of beauty really. Do you think I should go along with a pot of paint and a litte brush to spruce it up a bit? Let everyone know that they are 20 miles from Salop and 1 from Montgomery? Further up the road another has survived and is now half-buried, but sadly few are left. They are largely redundant now and we speed past them. I quite like the incidental link with the past and the serendipitous discovery of another.Almost unbelievably there is Milestone Society - whose aim no doubt is to protect and catalogue. My 'geek sensor' goes into overdrive and I back away. Glad to know these things exist but only too happy to let them rub along without me. I am in un-joining mode at present.
If you would like to see the site of my latest discovery - click on Mr Cary's most excellent map above and head West- north-west out of the little town of Bishops Castle. It's number 2.
7 comments:
Good.
Portugal
I am in un-joining mode at present.??? We were hoping you would join us on one of our Fun Day Mondays. Next one is at 1.30 this monday if you want to join in :-)
A x
Do I ever know what you mean by 'unjoining mode'! I'm trying my hardest to keep my mouth firmly closed when volunteers are being sought these days, although I did say yes to something for tomorrow, but it involves fresh air and a long walk, so there's give and take.
I remember seeing milestones like that in Ontario, but BC is much to new at roads and municipal organization to haven anything similar.
I love your blogs - always a little information that tempts me to find out more! I will be heading down the road to find that milestone later!! I think there is one on the Minsterley to Ploxgreen road too.
I have seen some either side of Clun towards "the Arms" and Bishop's Castle. Come and I'll show you where.
Actually, that is an interesting hobby to have. Without going so far as to join the milestoners you could pump them for info on sites?
I remember my mother telling me that during the war when invasion was feared all way markers sign posts (and milestones persuambly )were removed. I have wodnered ever since in odd moments whether they all went back to the right spots afterwards!! I think Milestones are a great thing to collect.I am sure if you try hard enough you will find some for sale on the internet!!
I wonder if you would get in bother for painting it and taking care of it? Hopefully not.
I don't remember seeing any milestones in my home town of Scarisbrick but we did have a celtic cross that was very lovely and we made up stories about it's history. I'm off to Google it now to see what it was ....
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