Introduction
Prior to the Roman era,
milestones were used in Britain as measuring points or as tribal meeting place.
Nowadays, these are more accurately referred to as 'direction posts',
'guide posts', 'boundary markers' or 'way markers',
but, nevertheless, they were the direct ancestor of milestones. It was not
until the Roman era that the first true milestones arrived in Britain where
they were extensively used to measure distances along the many Roman roads.
With the widespread introduction of canals during the 18th century, the natural thing to do was to place milestones along them as well, where they had the benefit of helping to reduce disputes over the collection of tolls by the issue permits. Many of these have now been lost due to a combination of negligence, vandalism, unsympathetic development and under the tracks of bulldozers making 'improvements'. The Peak Forest Canal was certainly not immune to losses such as these. Surviving relics from the bygone age of working canals need protection and some care if they are to remain part of our industrial heritage.
Permit No. 371: Issued on Tuesday, 14 May 1805. It permitted John Wardle on board Samuel Oldknow Esquire & Co's Boat No. 5 to carry 23½ tons of limestone from Bugsworth Basin to Marple, a distance of 7 miles. It was signed by E E Turner, the Wharfinger at Bugsworth Basin. Transport and stone charges are shown separately.
23½ tons x 10½d per ton for transport = £1 0s 6¾d
23½ tons x 2s 4½d per ton for stone = £2 15s 9¾d
Total = £3 16s 4½dIt was signed for at Marple Lime Works by R Goodwin, the Clerk.
Peak Forest Canal
Milestones on the Peak
Forest Canal were made of gritstone and they consisted of rectangular stones of
variable section and height with a double ogee curved top. They were placed at
½-mile intervals over the length of the canal and, in general, those
marking half miles were half the thickness of those marking miles. With the
exception of the 0 and 8 milestones, all were positioned with their face at
90° to the canal.
Distances along the canal were measured from the datum (or zero) milestone located at Ashton Junction, which is at the south end of the Tame Aqueduct in Dukinfield. Only one original milestone had the details carved into it and this is the 8 milestone adjoining lock 15 at Marple. This was inscribed:
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the bottom line was chiselled out in case the place-name was of use to the enemy.
Initially, it was thought that all other milestones did not have the mileage marked on them but a close examination of the 4 milestone in 1975 showed that distances were painted on them with white paint. This particular milestone is no longer extant as a result of vandalism.
Peak Forest Tramway
Distances along the
tramway were similarly measured from the start of the Peak Forest Canal at the
south end of the Tame Aqueduct in Dukinfield and the first milestone on the
tramway was the 15 milestone just outside Bugsworth Basin. Milestones were
placed at half-mile intervals along the canal but there is no evidence to show
that this practice was continued along the tramway. Instead, it appears that
they were only placed at intervals of one mile. It is assumed that those on the
tramway were similarly painted with distances.
Boundary Markers
The Peak Forest Canal Company also set up stone boundary markers like the
one illustrated on the right. These indicated the limits of land in company
ownership and their purpose was to prevent disputes with neighbouring
landowners. The boundary of most of the company's land was well defined by
drystone walls or similar, so it was unnecessary to provide boundary markers in
large quantities. Rather, they were provided at isolated locations where the
canal company's land extended beyond the normal width of the canal boundary
walls for constructional or legal reasons. Regrettably, none of these have
survived.
Picture Gallery
To use the Picture Gallery, click a thumbnail to view a larger image. Then click the Back Arrow to return here.
| Milestone | Lower Peak Forest
Canal Dukinfield to Bottom Lock, Marple |
Image |
|---|---|---|
| 0
Milestone Date: 9 Feb 1978 |
This is the datum milestone for all distances along the Peak Forest Canal and Tramway and it is located at Ashton Junction at the south end of the Tame Aqueduct, Dukinfield. |  |
| ½ Milestone | No
image available |
|
| 1
Milestone Date: 6 Mar 1978 |
Before Dukinfield Hall (or Well) Bridge, Dukinfield. |  |
| 1½ Milestone | No
image available |
|
| 2
Milestone Date: 4 Mar 1978 |
Before Throstle Bank (or Bowlers) Tunnel, Hyde. |  |
| 2½
Milestone Date: 4 Mar 1978 |
Before Captain Clarke's (or Woodend) Bridge, Hyde. |  |
| 3
Milestone Date: 4 Mar 1978 |
Beyond the former Foxholes Footbridge, Hyde. |  |
| 3½
Milestone Date: 4 Mar 1978 |
Before Burgess's Bridge, Woodley. |  |
| 4
Milestone Date: 4 Mar 1978 |
Before the
former Woodley Swivel and Footbridge. This milestone is no longer extant and only the stub remains. |
 |
| 4½ Milestone | After
Butterhouse Green Tunnel, Woodley. No longer extant. |
Click here |
| 5
Milestone Date: 28 Jul 1978 |
Before the Sheffield and Midland Railway Bridge, Woodley. |  |
| 5½
Milestone Date: 9 Feb 1978 |
At the south end of Hatherlow Aqueduct, Romiley. |  |
| 6
Milestone Date: 9 Feb 1978 |
Before the north west portal of Hyde Bank Tunnel, Romiley. |  |
| 6½ Milestone | No
image available |
|
| 7
Milestone Date: 2 Mar 2008 |
Just before
Bottom Lock House, Marple. |
 |
| Milestone | Marple Locks | Image |
|---|---|---|
| 7½
Milestone Date: 11 Feb 1978 |
Between locks 7 and 8, Marple. |  |
| 8
Milestone Date: 24 Jul 1978 |
Adjoining lock 15, Marple. |  |
| Milestone | Upper Peak Forest Canal Top Lock, Marple, to Bugsworth Basin |
Image |
|---|---|---|
| 8½
Milestone Date: 24 Jul 1978 |
Beyond Brick Change Bridge, Marple |  |
| 9
Milestone Date: 24 Jul 1978 |
Before Plucks (or Rawton Walls) Bridge, Marple. |  |
| 9½
Milestone Date: 11 Feb 1978 |
Before the former Moores (or Turflea) Swivel Bridge, Strines. |  |
| 10
Milestone Date: 11 Feb 1978 |
Beyond Stanley Hall (or Kicker's) Bridge, Strines. |  |
| 10½ Milestone | No
image available |
|
| 11
Milestone Date: 27 Aug 1978 |
Beyond Dryhurst Bridge, Disley. |  |
| 11½ Milestone | No
image available |
|
| 12
Milestone Date: 27 Aug 1978 |
Immediately beyond Thornsett Road (or Albion Road) Bridge, Newtown, New Mills |  |
| 12½ Milestone | No
image available |
|
| 13
Milestone Date: 11 Feb 1978 |
Before Furness Brook Aqueduct, Furness Vale. |  |
| 13½
Milestone Date: 11 Feb 1978 |
Beyond the former Bongs (or Yeardsley Bank) Swivel Bridge, Furness Vale. |  |
| 14
Milestone Date: 30 Apr 1978 |
Before Whaley
Bridge Junction, Bridgemont. No longer extant. |
 |
| 14½
Milestone Date: 5 Nov 2004 |
Immediately
beyond the second horse-transfer bridge at Bugsworth Basin. This milestone was specially commissioned to commemorate the Millennium and it is inscribed: 14½ MILES TO ASHTON JUNC. The presence of an original milestone at, or near, this point is unknown. |
 |
| 14½
milestone Date: 5 Nov 2004 |
The reverse of
the 14½ milestone is inscribed: IWPS Ltd 2000 IN MEMORY OF DENNIS LOMAS BASIN VOLUNTEER |
 |
| Milestone | Peak Forest
Tramway Bugsworth Canal Basin to Dove Holes Dale |
Image |
|---|---|---|
| 15
Milestone Date: 4 Aug 1976 |
Outside Bugsworth Canal Basin. |  |
| 16 Milestone | No
image available |
|
| 17
Milestone |
No
Image available |
|
| 18
Milestone Date: 7 Aug 1976 |
On the inclined
plane at Chapel-en-le-Frith. Unlike other milestones on the tramway, this one was positioned with its face parallel to the tramway instead of at 90°. |
 |
| 19
Milestone Date: 2 Aug 1976 |
At the top of Barmoor Clough. |  |
| 20 Milestone | No
image available |
