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

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Smithy Lane Milepost



Smith Lane Milepost
Smithy Lane Milepost
Just north of the junction of Smithy Lane and North Houses lane is a milepost. This lies on the left-hand side of Heyhouses lane on the route to Blackpool. The only discernible writing is a 3 on the side that shows the way to Blackpool. It would certainly seem to be 3 mile from there whether you took the "longer" route around Queensway or the route which probably went across the airport. It seems cared for and in no danger of being removed. This is the location of the milepost. The next milepost towards Blackpool will be almost outside the Queensway pub(Now  a Harvester). Blackpool Road North then heads towards Blackpool and joins Leach Lane, and heads across the Airport. Old maps show a milestone on the airport. Whether it still exists is unlikely. Leach lane then crosses Squire Gate lane at the Halfway House Pub. There is a boundary marker there. 
Heyhouses Lane

Halfway House Boundary Marker



Halfway house is situated on Squires Gate lane - lane is a 30mph dual carriageway - a well known favorite haunt for a police speed trap on a Sunday afternoon! Normally at the end by Common Edge Road. However back to the "Halfway pub" as locals call it. Most people belive that it is called this because it is halfway between the Prom end of Squires Gate Lane and the Common Edge end. This may be so, but it is actually halfway between Blackpool and St Annes. A road crossed where Blackpool Airport is. Started at the pub and joined Leach Lane in St Annes. I would presume under these circumstances the boundary marker should be at the front of the pub or on the St Annes Road side. The structure of the boundary marker seems identical to the other 2 markers above. It is made of metal.

Monday 28 March 2011

Preston New Road Boundary marker

Close up
Number 53
Preston New Road also has a boundary marker between Fylde borough and Blackpool. This is the Blackpool side of the Clarence pub, on the wall of number 53 Preston New Road. This is by the carriageway going towards Preston. Like the Old Road marker it is surprisingly near to Blackpool. The New road starts at Oxford Square and heads east. The road goes all the way into Preston. The Old Road joins the road at Marton Burial Ground.The location of the boundary stone is here.

Sunday 27 March 2011

Preston Old Road boundary marker.

This marker is situated on Preston Old Road. The road is now effectivly a short cut between the new road and Stanley Park, quite narrow in places. It ends in Blackpool at the Saddle Pub. This is possibly one of the oldest pubs in Blackpool and its name suggests connotations with a horse drawn age. There are certainly older properties around. The location is shown here.