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POINTING THE WAYS |
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A classic example of a cast iron guidepost manufactured by the Maldon Iron Works. It has a three feet six inch post, one ten and a half inch and three seven-inch arms with the upper pair staggered. The whole set is topped with a conical finial. Located at Great Totham (North) on the Maldon to Tiptree road. POINTING
THE WAYS An
Introductory Guide to the Cast Iron Direction, Guide and Fingerposts Along
the Highways and Byways of Essex by John V Nicholls
Pointing the Ways Waymarkers
of one description or another have dotted the countryside for many
centuries.
The earliest long distance traveller had most likely relied on
natural features but later he would erect stones or posts as a means
to follow routes, especially across moors or, for example, the ridge
routes of Wessex.
When the familiar fingerpost became a common feature alongside
the ways and byways is not known but certainly they were in use by the
end of the 17th century. The
earliest fingerposts were wooden and it has yet to be ascertained when
the first iron posts were erected in Essex.
All the cast iron posts remaining in Essex date from after
c.1920 but photographs from the late 19th and the early 20th
century frequently show cast iron posts in various locations around
Essex.
They were genuine fingerposts with the extremities of the arms
cast with familiar pointing finger hands. Why
the Interest? Guideposts,
or if you prefer, signposts, fingerposts or direction posts, abound
with hardly a road junction or crossroads not displaying one.
Unlike milestones, guideposts, in their many types and designs,
are still utilised on a day-to-day basis, especially in rural areas,
although the old cast iron examples are not as common as they were a
few decades ago.
My travels around Essex in pursuit of milestones have given me
the opportunity to appreciate the old guideposts and the amazing
number of subtle variations of them. Unlike searching for milestones,
which are along fairly well defined routes, old guideposts have to be
sought out almost in a random fashion.
They are found mostly by local knowledge or sheer luck. My
thanks to the following for their help and assistance in the search
for surviving cast iron posts; Geoff Perrior (Brentwood), Brian Barrow
(Clavering). David Mansell (Braintree), Colleen Morrison (Harlow), Dr
Jim Young (Essex ex-pat) and Janet Gyford (Witham). My apologies
to anyone I have forgotten.
Disappearing
Heritage After
the 1964 legislation for road signs many counties carried out the
wholesale destruction of their old fingerposts.
Fortunately some counties did retain many of the old iron posts
(Cheshire, Norfolk, Sussex and Essex are good examples), but their
survival in the long term is by no means assured.
Over the years there has been a gradual passing of the old cast
iron guideposts within the county of Essex.
Initially their demise was just accepted as another mark in the
inexorable march of progress, but it has lately been realised that
with their removal we are losing part of the county’s history and
heritage. With allies sharing the interest and discovering that Essex
County Council Heritage was also looking for old posts, the hunt was
on to discover what remained of Essex’s cast iron guidepost
survivors.
With
one exception in Upminster Tithe Barn Museum and another at Downham, no
pre-twentieth century posts are known to survive; the cast iron posts
that still remain date from soon after the end of the First World War to
the end of the 1930s.
Even though iron is long lasting, most rural and even some urban
guideposts have given way to wooden examples with either hand-painted
(rare these days) lettering, stick-on lettering or in a few cases,
individual metal lettering nailed or screwed into place.
Elsewhere modern reflective signs have been erected and are
perhaps more functional in today’s high speed rat race, but they lack
character and individuality as well as looking out of place in rural
settings.
The
Manufacturers The
Maldon Iron Works (MIW) of Maldon was responsible for
manufacturing by far the majority of surviving Essex’s cast iron
guideposts.
Current research including study of the Maldon Iron Works archive
in the Essex Record Office seems to indicate that all those surviving
can be dated to the 1920s and 1930s with the last MIW items being some
replacement arms in 1940. Stantons
Ironworks of Ilkeston in Derbyshire also managed to sell their
products in Essex and a number of their guideposts remain, mostly in the
west of the county.
The oldest known iron guidepost still existence is a genuine
nineteenth century finger post now housed in the Upminster Tithe Barn
Museum.
It is known that the manufacturer was Wedlake of
Hornchurch.
Further research may disclose if other manufacturers, either
within or outside the Essex, were making guideposts for the county’s
highways.
The unusual post at Downham is a good example of an unknown
maker. Seen
from a distance the Maldon Iron Works guideposts, other than their
differing heights, all look similar but on closer inspection many
variations soon become apparent.
The first noticeable difference relates to the finial at the top
of the post. Features
1. Finials
(MIW) The
finials on Maldon Iron Works posts are of four distinct types: The
semicircular or half-moon; the roundel or disc; pierced roundel or halo
(the “Shires” book on signs uses the term annulus);
and the cone. Most commonly
seen are the cone and the semicircular. The
half-moon or semicircular parish plate finials seem to be unique to
Essex. Initially the choice
of the design remained something of an enigma until it was realised that
early wooden posts in the county frequently displayed parish plates of
the same shape. The plates
are not true semicircles being eighteen inches wide by nine inches in
height. The
half-moon plates have two known variations.
Normally they all follow the same style of lettering with
“PARISH OF” following around the top curve and the name of the
parish along the bottom. In
the centre, within a semicircular surround, the text usually reads
“E.C.C.” (the abbreviation for Essex County Council) and “STICK NO
BILLS”. Three exceptions
have been noted at Loughton, High Roding and at Aythorpe Roding where an
oval surround enclosing “E.C.C.” replaces the “E.C.C. and “STICK
NO BILLS” legend. The
The
cone or conical finial seems to have been generally used on short post
types although not uncommon on medium and tall posts.
By the mid-1930s it was probably common practice to use this type
of finial. Roundels
or discs occur less frequently. They
record the parish in similar form to the semicircular types with
“ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL” in the centre.
The known examples appear on a localized clutch in Ingatestone,
Hutton and Stock with an isolated example at Hockley.
Halo or annulus finials are a rarity on Maldon Iron Works posts. The only known examples of the type is on the post at Herongate ( the text simply reading “ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL”) and Woodford Green. It might well be that the Herongate annulus finial was not supplied as original equipment by Maldon Iron Works. One of the arms (towards Billericay with a road number box mistakenly cast into it) was a comparatively recent replacement. The annulus at Woodford Green is definitely a new addition.
One
MIW guidepost that seemed to defy some of the hard and fast rules is at
Ulting.
It has a rectangular finial with a semicircular top and was
thought to be a later replacement.
However, the shape has been seen within the Maldon Iron Works order
books so it might be contemporary. It is the only short
post type so far seen with a lettered finial; all other short post types
having a cone.
The post is also unusual in that it does not have the usual taper
although this also occurs at Liston. Chrishill and Manuden.
While it is
that the original cast iron posts were broken and straight steel
replacements were made, there were some posts of the straight type
ordered c.1926.. Even
more exceptional, if not unique, is the MIW post at Heybridge, Maldon.
Instead of a finial, this once apparently had a lamp on top.
A curving remnant of the lamp arm remains although the light
fitting has long since disappeared Posts
without finials normally have a cap.
This probably helps to prevent the ingress of water to the shaft
fitted inside the top of the hollow post.
These are quite rare and possibly were not original fittings.
Lettered finials are painted white with the legend picked out in
black.
Conical types are seen painted black or white. Feature
2. The Post (MIW). Although
a few exceptions have been noted above, by and large the posts of Maldon
Iron Works examples are normally found to have a gentle taper.
A significant feature is the height of the posts.
They can vary between three feet six inches from ground level to
the bottom of the lowest arm (as at Little Totham) to six feet nine
inches (Newland Street, Witham) to about eight feet (Hockley).
The first two of these three heights are the most commonly quoted
in the MIW order books housed in the Essex Record Office.
Usually they are referred to as “M/T” (Ministry of Transport)
posts. The
colour for the posts was original light grey and then from the early
1930s the familiar alternate black and white banding approximately
twelve inches in width.
Where this style is still in use it makes a good guide to
estimating heights.
Many posts have been painted white only but the original striped
scheme can sometimes be made out underneath.
The rather sad Great Warley has one such example where a poor
layer of grey paint covers the original banding.. Feature
3. Maker’s Marks (MIW) Close
examination of the posts and arms reveals variations in the way that the
Maldon Irons Works makers mark is displayed.
The company’s logo is not consistent and is presented in
several different forms. Often
layers of paint have made the marks almost illegible but experience
“in the field” has made the task easier.
Distribution of the different types may be based on date of
manufacture. If the style
changed with time this might be verified once the study of the company
order books is completed.
The next form is the semicircular layout of text without a border. Around the top curve is the text “MALDON IRON WORKS” with “CO. LD” above “MALDON” in the centre and base. Most frequently seen near the base of the post either on one side or both. There is a variation where the lower “MALDON” curves downwards giving the overall appearance of an oval logo. All the lettering is cast in relief.
The third form is a raised disc with a bordered outer ring with the wording “MALDON IRON WORKS MALDON”. There are three lines of text in the centre that read “CO / MAKERS / LTD” with “MAKERS” having a border top and bottom. This form has only been seen on arms. Examples may be found at Orsett, Hutton and Stock.
Dating
any Maldon Iron Works guidepost was something of a hit and miss
exercise.
The differing logo presentations may offer a clue with, perhaps,
LTD later than LD.
Those posts along major roads (A or B class) can generally be
dated after 1920 as they have the road numbers cast into their arms –
around the time that road classifications came into being.
Again, researching the Maldon Iron Works order books will
hopefully give up their secrets. Feature
3. Arms
(MIW) Three
sizes (by height) of arm have been identified from the MIW order books.
The length of the arms is variable and partly governed by the
length of the legend.
Road classification numbers are placed within a rectangle.
The heights are: Seven inches with one or two lines on text; ten
and a half inches with two or three lines of text and fourteen inches
with two, three or four lines of text. The
lettering on the arms is commonly two and half inches high with
half-inch stroke width.
Occasionally lettering is larger, for example on some
“A“class road posts with only one or two lines of legend on a ten
and a half inch arm or where specially ordered. Other sizes include four
inches and some specials of six inches.
Posts
by Other Manufacturers. Another
manufacturer that managed to get its products alongside the roads of
Essex was Stanton Ironworks of Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
Why these should be in Essex and dating from the same period as
the Maldon Iron Works posts in unknown.
A good example with two arms stands on the former A12 at
Kelvedon.
It dates from post 1920 as the road number appears on the arms.
All the other examples are to be found in west Essex.
Common features of the Stanton posts are the rounded ends to the
arms, thin halo or annulus finials and ring decoration on the posts.
One Stanton post at Felsted breaks the rules as it has a unique
shaped finial plate that may be a replacement item.
Most examples the word “STANTON” is cast into the
lower part of the post. Mrs.
O’Connell of Maplestead drew my attention to some posts in the Great
and Little Maplestead area that have cast arms.
All have lettering cast in with the exception of an example at
Great Maplestead where the lettering has been crudely painted on by
hand. All
have thin, non-tapering posts.
It has not been possible to determine the age of these guideposts
but they may be of more recent origin. A
few guideposts still keep their origins a secret.
Two in Stisted have many characteristics of the Stanton with
rounded ends to the arms and thin halos atop the tapering posts.
Another at Bentfield Green, just outside Stansted with the
appearance of a Stanton post might be the product of Whitmore &
Binyon of Wickham Market. It had rounded ends to the wooden arms (replaced with new arms
on 2004 with squared ends) and an ogee finial. Different
manufacturers have cast replacement arms and a few had their names
applied.
The MIW post at Foxearth has had a replacement made by IRS LTD
NORFOLK.
Carol Haines of the Milestone Society informs me that this was
IRS of Lion Works, Swaffham, Norfolk who stopped making cast iron signs
in the 1950s. At
least three examples of another type of post with cast arms have been
noted although they probably date from the 1950s.
The arms seem to be non-ferrous and one post of this type in
Saffron Walden with its arms broken off shows no signs of rust at the
break points.
The other two of this type are at East Tilbury and Ashdon. The
only other survivors of cast iron types are the Wedlake of
Hornchurch fingerpost in the museum at Upminster and the twisted post
design one at Downham.
A post, the product of The Royal Label Factory of
Stratford on Avon, with a single remaining arm stood on the corner of
Upminster (Tylers) Common until at least 1970. The
State of Essex Guideposts My
travels around the county have shown up great differences in the way our
guideposts have been maintained or neglected.
Geoff Perrior, in Issue 3 of the Essex Group of The Milestone
Society newsletter, reported the refurbishment of the Orsett posts but
sadly the Orsett exercise seems to be an exception.
Maldon District Council look after their guideposts and those at
Woodham Walter and Great Totham are exceptionally well maintained
although one of two at Little Totham is in need of maintenance.
There is a similar case in Witham where a post with conical
finial but no arms in Newland Street has had a beautiful paint job
(black and white bands) but the other post in Witham at Powershall End,
with a single remaining arm, has been left to the elements.
However, Janet Gyford of Witham has been in touch with Essex
Highways (North East) who will be putting the Powershall End post on
their “to do” job list. Uttlesford
District, with the greatest number of surviving iron posts, has been
very active painting but leaving the post unbanded.. Tendring
district had a couple of very poor posts at Mistley and Thorrington but
these were painted in 2003 and although only cosmetic, it has given them
a new lease of life. Braintree
district is second only to Uttlesford regarding numbers of remaining
cast iron posts.
Unfortunately most are in a fairly poor condition.
Peldon’s
post in the Colchester district was a casualty in 2004 when one of its
arms was broken off.
Within a week it had been welded back in place. Many posts have lost their finials. Whether by accident or design is unknown but those with parish names on them may have been stolen as souvenirs, not dissimilar to the fate that can befall cast iron milestones. Replacement, at a cost, might be possible but only if there is a record of the original finial. Missing arms could also be recast but again, unless there is evidence (memories or photographs) of the original, an exact replica would be impossible. However, clues as to original legends will eventually materialise in the Maldon Iron Works order books. The
Future The
future for Essex’s guideposts varies from bright to very bleak.
Some are no longer maintained and are just rusting remnants of
their former glory.
Others show signs of crude or temporary repair that seems to
indicate cost cutting; just trying to eke out a few more years of use
with the minimum of layout.
It is sad to see them slowly decaying and to know that they will
inevitably be swept away and replaced by new wooden or modern reflective
signs.
A very neglected MIW example stands at Thorrington Cross on the
B1027.
Two arms have broken off and the remaining two arms show many
old, but crude, repairs.
It was painted in 2003 but only to cover up the red rust.
One is inclined to wonder if this is a case of planned neglect
with the inevitable consequence of the posts being destroyed on safety
grounds.
Cast
iron posts are removed even when they seem to be in reasonable
condition.
Geoff Perrior spent time trying to determine the loss of the post
at Tolleshunt D’Arcy.
It was removed because it was “unsafe”.
The arms have allegedly gone into to store at the County Highways
at Rayleigh.
If this is so, for what purpose are they being stored?
Even listing seems to be no guarantee of a future either.
A Grade II listed post at Elmstead on the B1027 has long
disappeared and replaced with modern signs.
This will now have to be delisted – yet another heritage item
lost to future generations.
There are some in original condition that must surely deserve
consideration for listing.
One of exceptional quality and maintained to an extremely high
standard may be found at the junction of Oak Farm Road and Church Hill,
Woodham Walter.
It is certainly a favourite of mine. Some
new legislation that came into force on 1 January 2005 may also be to the
detriment of the cast iron posts still in situ along main roads.
All obsolete road signs (pre-1964) had to be taken down and
replaced with modern signage but the old fingerposts can be retained in
addition to new signs.
However, there will be county or district authorities who will
decide that that removal of the old is the easier option.
A further move towards “quiet roads” in rural areas might
also see the removal of prominent fingerposts to deter the motorist. My
personal opinion, for what is worth, is that all the remaining cast iron
posts should be maintained in a clean, well-painted condition even when
arms are broken.
Funds for making replacement parts should be sought wherever
feasible.
Complete examples retaining all original parts should be
considered for listing.
This does not guarantee protection but does acknowledge
recognition.
Many have been in position for over eighty years and have become
local features in the landscape.
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