Summary

The White Lady Milestone at the junction of Portsmouth Road (A307) and Esher Station Road (B3379).

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 27 November 2014. The 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 a large cylindrical block of limestone, a milestone known traditionally as the "White Lady", giving principal distances on the London-Portsmouth road. It is situated on a junction outside the Orleans Arms. The milestone was erected in 1767 and is about 2.5m high. It stands on a plinth and has two breaks in the stone back on the top, crowned by a ball finial. There are three vertical columns on the milestone giving places and distances.

It is Grade II listed.

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. Such is the case with The White Lady Milestone, which is an important survival in a very good state of preservation.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Surrey HER 3746. NMR TQ16NW24. PastScape 397657.

Source: Historic England