MSO10803 - Milestone at Barlynch Woods, Brompton Regis (Monument)

Milestone. 1820s. Sandstone and cast iron. About 240 mm high, dressed stone somewhat eroded, cambered head, attached plaque with semi-circular headed central section inscribed in incised lettering "16 miles to Minehead". [1] The description of this milestone has been confused with that of MSO10804. This one should read 17 miles. [2] English Heritage Listed Building Number: 265603. First Listed on 04/08/1986. [3] Stone, Ashlar walls. [4] 'M.S' and 'Minehead' noted on Second Edition OS map. [5] Consultation with English Heritage in December 2012 has resulted in listing descriptions and mapping for milestones 1237566 (265604) and 1345419 (265603) being amended. This monument is now linked to 1237566 (265604). [6] The building was visited in December 2013 as part of the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. It received a BAR score of 4A. [7] 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. In 1986 the milestone was recorded as complete, in 2005 the plate is recorded as very loose and the top section of stonework broken off. [8] A project in 2006- 2007 was set up by Somerset Historic Environment Service to repair the surviving milestones and replace the missing milestones. [9] The building was assessed as part of the 2018-19 rapid condition survey of Exmoor’s Listed Buildings, receiving a BAR score of 4A. [10]