Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Saturday, May 7, 2016 16:33 |
Guide Post at Four Lane Ends, Sutton
Readers may be interested to know that Chris Riley and I have restored an historic 18th century guide post to the cross roads at Four Lane Ends above Sutton. The original stone probably stood about 5 feet (1.5m) tall and was removed from the cross roads early in the last century and broken up. The top part was found by the late Richard Mathers, some 25 or so years ago, amongst rubble at Four Lane Ends Cottage. It remained in the garden at the cottage until earlier this year when the owner, Jane Firth, gave us permission to remove it. Village records reveal that it was erected in 1749 along with a second guide post which stands at the junction of Pole Road and Long Gate (the road to Slippery Ford and Oakworth) :–
22 March 1749 2 gide Posts Breaking Leading Indxin And Seting £0 5s 0d.
The face of the stone is rather crudely inscribed:- 'To Settell (Settle) M (blank) and Kighle(y) M 4' and on the back 'Cown (Colne) M 6'. We were very surprised that it directed travellers to Settle, but further research has revealed that this was once the route of the old highway between Keighley and Settle and that it passed through Laycock, Lane Ends at Cowling, Elslack, East Marton, Swinden (near Hellifield) and Long Preston before reaching Settle. A further five guide posts, marking this ancient route, still survive. The old highway fell out of use towards the end of the 18th century when the Keighley to Kendal Turnpike Road was built taking the route to Settle via Skipton.
We are grateful to Jane Firth for giving us the stone and for the support and assistance that we have received from David Airey of New Bridge Farm, who gave permission for the stone to be built into the field wall, George Dimitrijevic, dry stone waller, and Martin Swift, stone mason of Swift Memorials, who inscribed the new base stone and professionally secured the guide post in position.
Incidentally some time in the past the other guide post has been taken out and put back wrong way around. The inscription is now at the back facing the wall and reads:- 'To Keighley 4 M and Cown - M'. |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Saturday, May 7, 2016 17:12 |
That's fantastic! |
Brenda Whitaker
Queensland Australia
Sunday, May 8, 2016 20:46 |
Great work you guys and what good help and cooperation you have had too. |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Monday, May 9, 2016 11:58 |
Photos of the guide post have been added to the gallery. |
Alan Smith
Sutton
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 08:22 |
The route that this ancient road took is found by another old mile stone now used as a gate-post on the road to Elslack the gate is situated between the the Lothersdale Cononley cross-roads on the Elsack road where futher on there are bends in the road it is on the left before the buildings on the right hand side . |
Andrew Monkhouse
Hanoi, Vietnam
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 00:50 |
That's a terrific effort Chris & Robin, very well done ,-) |
Brenda Whitaker
Queensland Australia
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 01:34 |
Great photos too - thanks for posting those - good to see faces behind the names, especially for us in foreign climes. |
Chris Swales
Stonemason from Cowling
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 09:07 |
Hi I am interested in the other guide posts, it says there are five I know the one where you turn off for Slippery ford, the one at four lane ends and the stoop stone above Carlton. I was wondering where the other two are?
Kind regards
Chris Swales |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 13:30 |
Hi Chris, Thanks for your interest. There is a guide post at the junction of Lane Ends Lane and Carr Head Lane, Cowling. The one laid at Lothersdale cross roads apparently has 'Kieghle 7 M' cut into it, it is very faint, and doesn't mention Settle. About half a mile up Baby House Lane from the cross roads is another guide post used as a gate post. The Pudding or Porridge Stone guide post stands at Elslack/Carlton cross roads. The next stone is at East Marton, it stands back from the main road at the junction with Ingthorpe Lane (now a bridleway). The final one now stands just off the Maypole Green at Long Preston and was relocated there from the old road to Settle which formerly ran up Green Gate Lane and Edge Lane (now part footpath and bridleway). You will find the stones on the Yorkshire Milestone Society website.
|
Chris Swales
Stonemason from Cowling
Monday, May 23, 2016 20:59 |
Hi Robin
Thanks for the information, I've been out and located them plus more in the Craven area. The Milestone at the top of Long Gate has it been taken out at some point and put back in the wrong way?
Thanks Chris |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Thursday, May 26, 2016 08:34 |
Hi Chris - yes, you are correct (presuming it was originally put in the right way round). The gallery page has been updated, Robin has provided additional photos showing the guide post at the junction of Long Gate and Pole Road.
|
