THE CODFORD MILESTONE
During the 1960s, workmen building the lay-by in Codford High
Street, unearthed three large fragments of stone, which they
intended to throw in their skip. One of the team recognised the
decorative quality of the pieces and carted them off to his garden
in Somerset where they resided for many years in an ornamental
capacity. When he came to move house the pieces were offered
to the local group of the Milestone Society. Their Chairman,
Janet Dowding, together with other members purchased the
stone and removed it to Janet’s house for safe storage pending
repair and relocation to its original site. A bit of research soon
established this to be the Wiltshire village of Codford. John
Watts of the Salisbury and Wiltshire Milestone Group moved the
pieces to Codford where Alec Thomson arranged the repair with
Alasdair Rennie and his highly skilled team from the Coade
Workshop in Wilton.
The Milestone is one of the first generation erected in the 18th
century, when the first turnpike roads were being laid out. The
old road through Codford was part of the Amesbury Trust,
which was set up in 1762, just after the Heytesbury Road was
turnpiked. The stone may have stood close to where the later,
cast-iron milepost now stands, although an examination of the
1773 Andrews and Dury’s map shows it to be standing on the
north side of the High Street, west of St Peter’s church. The
stone is Chilmark, some 86cm long, the lower 60cm of which
would have been inserted into the ground. It averages about
37cm in width and 18cm in depth. The top is shaped in a
shallow triangle and the front two edges show signs of having
been bevelled. The inscription is in capital letters, lower case
and Roman numerals, about 7cm high, with the date given in
modern (Arabic) numerals:
TO
SARUM
XIV
TO
Warmi[nster]
VI
1766
The repair has been carried out, largely free of charge, with
great skill and Alasdair Rennie has installed it not far from its
original home some 50m west of St Peters church. Credit is due
to a number of players:
Douglas Roseaman and enthusiasts from the Milestone Society
Codford Parish Council for support and funding
Codford Local Historical Society for co-ordinating the project
Alasdair Rennie and his team from Coade Workshop
An unveiling ceremony is planned to thank all those involved.
Watch out for dates.