Milestones, Boundary Markers, Historical Artifacts, Street Furniture, lost roads and buildings.

There are many traces of our ancestors scattered around our landscape. Mile Markers and Boundary stones are there too. The Milestone Society believes that there are approximately 9000 left in the United Kingdom. Some are cherished but others are hidden in hedgerows, some have been unwittingly destroyed by crashes, road equipment or even stolen. Roads have been straightened to make them safer. There are old gateposts still left in place, old buildings, and place names that declare an evocative past. The aim is to capture some of this information at least photographically before it disappears.

Although the Fylde Coast does not have ancient history, the Romans apparently struggled to Kirkham. There have been huge changes in the last two centuries from literally a a few fishermans' and agricultural dwellings, to a full blown tourist and light engineering industry.

More historical information can be found here about the Fylde coast.

It also seems that time has marched on and left what appears to be some very respectable buildings... which just should be used, but seem to have no worth.

Links from this Blog

Nearly-Midnight The genealogy website relating to the family. A tangled web of people all related to one another, explore!
Memorials Website dedicated to War Memorials - The majority in the North of England. Visits to churches, but also memorials in out of the way places.
Robert Clark The Father of Henry Martyn-Clark - A missionary out in the North-West Frontier of India. One of the first Europeans to set foot in Afganistan
Affetside Census A small village north of Bury, Lancashire, I can trace many of my immediate ancesters from there. On the Roman Road, Watling Street
Andrew Martyn-Clark My Father and his part in my World. Also my mother and his parents too.
Henry Martyn-Clark My Great Grandfather, his roots and his achievements. Discusses malaria but also his confrontations with Islam.

Friday, 1 April 2011

Common Edge Road Boundary Marker

Common Edge Road looking North

Common Edge Road looking South
Common Edge Road Boundary Marker
This is the boundary marker that is set into the ground at the side of the old Common Edge road. The road was straightened and then it contined south to Queensway. Queensway is a circular route, curved to allow bigger planes to land at Blackpool Airport. This route is now considered to be the main inland route between Blackpool and Lytham St Annes. 
 
Some more house building is proposed in St Annes. This road can be extremely busy. A crash on the seafront road or this road can completely snarl traffic up. However this marker is one of the few that actually seems to be in the right place. The inscription reads:
 
"FORMER BOUNDARY MARKER RE-ERECTED NEAR ITS OLD SITE TO RECORD EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURAL YEAR1975 BLACKPOOL CENTENARY YEAR 1976 AND THE FOUNDATION OF BLACKPOOL CIVIC TRUST"

I do recall an old traction engine being parked close by this stone for many years. 100 yards north of the marker is Trebaron Garden Centre which is extremely popular. The Old Common Edge road is used as a feeder road to the Garden Centre but also the old row of cottages nearby. The Boundary Marker is on the extreme left of the photo, just out of shot. Just south is Division Lane and cuts across Common Edge road. The eastern end disappears onto the airport. This has long been considered the "proper"  boundary between Blackpool and Lytham St Annes. Opposite, and on the other side of the road is a Pill Box dating back to the Second World War, now used to advertise rugby and cricket matches. The remains of the old Common Edge road cuts round the back of the Airport. On maps it is called Moss Edge Lane.  Chance to explore.
The links are photos on my Panoramio site.


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