Summary

A milestone erected on the Norwich to Scole Turnpike, probably in the late eighteenth century or early nineteenth century.

Description

A milestone erected on the Norwich to Scole Turnpike, probably in the late C18.

MATERIALS: stone.

DESCRIPTION: the milestone is situated at the southern end of the Grade II listed bridge, close to the western parapet. It is square in section and has a rounded top. It is painted white with the inscriptions ‘Ipswich 36 Miles’ carved into its northern face and ‘Norwich 7 Miles’ into its eastern face. The lettering is picked out in black paint.

History

Milestones, along with mileposts and guideposts, are one of the most widespread forms of street furniture. Roads undergo such considerable alteration that milestones can be of particular note as testaments to the development of our transport network, and as reminders of the different perceptions of distance in a pre-motorised age. In the mid-C18 milestones became prevalent after turnpike trusts were encouraged to provide markers on roads. Turnpike Trusts were encouraged from the early 1740s to mark every mile and in 1767, mileposts were compulsory on all turnpikes, not only to inform travellers of direction and distances, but to help coaches keep to schedule and for charging for changes of horses at the coaching inns. From the 1840s, rail travel overtook road for longer journeys and many turnpike trusts were wound up. In 1888, the new County Councils were given responsibility for main roads and rural district councils for minor routes.

The milestone on Newton Flotman Bridge is one of fourteen surviving milestones along the former Norwich to Scole Turnpike, marking Norwich 7 miles and Ipswich 36 miles. This turnpike was created in 1769, running from the junction with the Norwich to Thetford Turnpike just south of St Stephen's Gate to Scole Bridge on the Suffolk border. There were tollgates at Harford Bridge, Newton Bridge, and Tivetshall Gate. The turnpike lasted for 106 years before being disturnpiked in 1874, and is now the A140. The milestone at Newton Flotman is depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1882 at the end of the bridge’s west wing wall. In 2013 or 2014 it was moved further along the bridge, 16m to the NNW, although it is still marked in its original position on the current Ordnance Survey map.

The bridge carrying the former Norwich to Ipswich road over the River Tas was built in the late medieval period as a four-arch stone bridge. During the first half of the C19, it was widened twice on the east side and causeways were built at both ends. It was extended to the north by the addition of a brick arch in 1976, and is now bypassed and pedestrianised.

Reasons for Listing

The milestone on Newton Flotman Bridge, erected on the Norwich to Scole Turnpike, probably in the late C18 or early C19, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:
 
* as an intact, well-executed and legible milestone that survives in roughly its original location.

Historic interest: 

* as an example of a late C18 or early C19 milestone representative of the expansion and standardisation of road networks following the General Turnpike Act of 1773;

* as part of a sequence of surviving milestones, two others of which are listed, marking the historic route between Norwich and Scole.

Group value:

* for its strong group value with the Grade II listed Newton Flotman Bridge over the River Tas, both structures being eloquent reminders of pre-industrialised transport routes.

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