MEM23803 - Post-medieval milestone north of Kitswall Farm (Monument)

A milestone is shown on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map at SS 9697 4281, also featuring a bench mark on its southern face. The annotation on the map states that it marks four miles to Minehead and twelve miles to Dulverton. [1] The milestone is again shown in the same position on the 2nd Edition map, although at this stage it is only annotated to mark four miles to Minehead. [2] A replacement milestone was positioned here in 2006 but has since been moved. [3] The construction of the 14 miles or so of the A396 road from Timberscombe southwards to beyond the County boundary with Devon was authorized under the Turnpike Act of 1822 and completed by 1827. A total of twelve Ham stone milestones were erected on the western side of the road to a standard design with cast iron plates inscribed with incised lettering reading 6 miles to Minehead to 18 Miles to Minehead. A survey of roadside heritage on this section of the A396 was carried out in 1985 or 1986 and showed that ten milestones remained largely complete but with some damage to stonework and wear and tear. A new survey at the end of 2005 showed that four milestones had subsequently been removed or seriously damaged in the intervening years. [4] A project in 2006- 2007 was set up by Somerset Historic Environment Service to repair the surviving milestones and replace the missing milestones. [5]