Summary

Milestone, 32m west of No.198 Sutton High Street.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 24 March 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes an 18th century milestone situated at the northern end of Sutton High Street, opposite the junction with Benhill Avenue.

The milestone is a rectangular block of stone with peaked capping. On the east side of the stone is the inscription: ‘Whitehall XI miles. Royal Exchange XII miles’. The inscriptions on the north and south sides are no longer decipherable. It is one of a series of milestones that were erected in 1745 from Westminster and London Bridge to Banstead Downs.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Milestones are both an important testament to the development of the transport network and are reminders of different perceptions of distance in a pre-motorised age. In the mid-eighteenth century milestones became prevalent after turnpike trusts were encouraged to provide markers on roads. They often display a notable amount of individuality before the late eighteenth century.

The milestone, 32m west of No.198 Sutton High Street survives well. It has group value with a series of 18th century milestones erected from Westminster and London Bridge to Banstead Downs.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Greater London SMR 030424/00/00 - MLO4508.

Source: Historic England