Protecting Datchet’s milestone

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Update November 2021

Restoration complete

Datchet’s milestone was installed by the Colnbrook Turnpike Trust in 1768 and indicates it is 20 miles to London, three miles to Colnbrook and one mile to Windsor. It has now been restored by Andy Chalk, the stone mason, and we are pleased to announce that it was relocated to Memorial Green on 4 November 2021.

When the DVS (with some help from the Milestone Society) began a campaign to preserve the Datchet Milestone in 2002, we did not think that it would take 20 years! To quote Janet Kennish, as reported in The Royal Borough Observer on 26 June 2002: ‘If we don’t move it, we will lose it. … It is going to be a long process and we will need the support of the Parish Council, the Royal Borough and Highways Agency’.

At the time Janet’s prophetic words went unheeded and the parish council of the day decided to leave the stone in situ, near the kerb of the busy London Road. In September 2018, it was knocked out and damaged by a motor vehicle, only to be knocked out again a few months later after a temporary repair. It was left in a parlous state but at least by then most people were convinced that the advice from the DVS was sound.

The Parish Council agreed to restore and move the milestone to a safer place on the Green and the DVS proposed to mark the former position with a bronze plaque in the pavement. The DVS liaised with Historic England and the Milestone Society, and wrote the Heritage Statement for the planning application to move the milestone.

In 2019, planning permission to move the listed monument was granted. Unfortunately the Covid pandemic curtailed the stonemason’s restorative work for many months and also little progress was made on the plaque, so the project stalled again. However the restored milestone has now been relocated to Memorial Green, in line with the original site.

Permission has been sought from RBWM Highways to install the plaque. The plaque has to made, tested for ‘slipping’ and approved by Conservation, Highways, the Lead Member for Highways, Borough Councillors, et al, before it can be installed by an approved contractor. DVS is working with the Parish Council on this and we hope to have positive news on its progress soon – fingers crossed!

More information

DVS liaised with The Milestone Society and produced a report for the Parish Council which formed the basis of the planning application heritage statement. It can be found here (milestone report).

Earlier posts. 2018/2019: Protecting Datchet’s milestone

DVS has been working with the Parish Council to help protect Datchet’s listed milestone which was knocked over and damaged by a vehicle in September 2018. It was temporarily cemented in place while a decision was made about its future conservation and possible relocation for its own safety as it is particularly vulnerable to further damage by vehicular impact. The section of the stone closest to the road has been damaged and some of the lettering is missing. The lower section also suffers from salt-spreading, rainwater sprayed from the gutter, and exhaust pollution. It has no gravel breather margin and the temporary cement repair is also detrimental, causing ‘wicking’. In its current location, the milestone is suffering significant ongoing and disfiguring decay. Its location and insecure temporary fixing mean it is at real risk of damage or loss.

After theMilestone July damage listed milestone was knocked over and damaged again by a vehicle in July 2019, it was removed temporarily and stored in the Parish Yard. The Parish and Borough Councils agreed, in principle, that it could be moved a few yards to Memorial Green out of harm’s way, but there was some concern that moving it might result in the loss of its listed status. Marjorie Clasper, DVS Secretary, consulted Historic England and recently received some encouraging news from their listing adviser: ‘Generally the significance and historic authenticity of a milestone will be linked to its positioning and this would be a relevant factor in any listing assessment, however, here there are clearly practical reasons for moving this stone a relatively short distance. As long as the relevant local Borough Council process is adhered to then it is anticipated that we would simply process any future request to reassess this as a straightforward minor amendment to the List entry in order to record its new position.’ The milestone’s future listed status will also depend on its condition and other relevant criteria at the time of assessment, but the Historic England officer advised that the Parish Council should not be deterred from proceeding with the planning application for the work. It is believed that the stone has been moved several times in the past but it has been suggested to place a plaque, or similar, on the pavement in London Road to indicate its previous position.

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