Village

Fingerposts, What is Their History?

Fingerposts have woven themselves into the rural tapestry for ages, continuing to be crucial in our daily navigation even in the era of satellite navigation systems.

These primarily black-and-white signposts stationed at crossroads are more than mere relics; they’re living aids that guide us through the intricate maze of British roads and slim country byways, where getting disoriented is more common than one might admit.

However, these navigational aids are more than just functional; they’re pieces of our collective rural and cultural legacy.

But despite their importance, these road ornaments often fade into the background of our awareness, underappreciated and overlooked.

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The history of fingerposts isn’t well-documented, which is rather unexpected. Yet, the earliest recorded post hails from 1669, located in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. While a local historical society preserves the original, a replica now marks its historic spot.

Ham Sandwich finger post, Finglesham, Kent, England, amuses the visitors.
Ham Sandwich finger post, Finglesham, Kent, England, amuses the visitors.

Legislatively, the year 1697 marked a watershed moment, ushering in the first attempts at systematic placement of these guides.

Pothole-Marred Trails

Laws mandated the installation of markers at secluded intersections, pointing the way to the closest town or village.

Read More: Drove Roads, What are They?

Then, the onus was on parishes to keep up the long-distance paths or lanes, connecting communities, which, regrettably, were frequently neglected, devolving into nothing but rutted and pothole-marred trails.

As the 18th century unfolded, turnpike trusts emerged as a promising solution for enhancing the expanding network of roads.

Ox Drove
This road is called Ox Drove an) and from Winchester, Hampshire

The concept of permitting these entities to levy tolls for road maintenance represented a strategy for bettering travel conditions without dipping into public coffers. Sometimes this worked and sometimes it didn’t, with many trusts going bust through lack of traffic.

During this era, the fingerpost, initially crafted from wood before transitioning to cast iron, became a common fixture, courtesy of these trusts, as did milestones.

Read More: How Did Trackways Evolve into Turnpike Roads? 

The year 1766 marked the mandate for milestones’ installation along the roads for distance measurement.

Their presence allowed for the assessment of speed, gauged by the duration of journeys between these markers, especially as stagecoaches hastened across rural landscapes.

When erected, fingerposts were typically positioned at an elevation suitable for visibility from horseback or within a horse-drawn vehicle.

Finger-post, Burton in Lonsdale, North Yorkshire, England
Finger-post, Burton in Lonsdale, North Yorkshire, England

Subsequent eras saw various legislations shaping not just the visual aesthetic but also the functionality of these iconic rural beacons.

Notably, in 1921, the Ministry of Transport introduced a proposal advocating for uniformity in the sizing and hue of the inscriptions on these navigational markers.

Fingerposts, the Capital Letter Rule

In 1933, new rules dictated that capital letters in black-and-white should be set against a white backdrop, all affixed to a post with a black-and-white scheme.

Read More: Ridgeways, our Prehistoric Road System Before Roman Roads

However, even with these specifications, national consistency was elusive, as local authorities exercised judgment over the finer aspects of the designs. This led to a fascinating diversity of styles that continue to grace our roadways.

Royal Label Factory "Geared" Signpost near Skirethorns The blank finger is pointing to Bordley via a rough road. The grid reference is shown on the circle.
Royal Label Factory “Geared” Signpost near Skirethorns The blank finger is pointing to Bordley via a rough road. The grid reference is shown on the circle.

In certain areas, the posts bear the initials of the regional highway authority, while in others, they’re inscribed with junction names — take, for example, Molly Brown’s Corner in the Dorset village of Lytchett Matravers, near the Purbeck Hills.

In counties like West Sussex, fingerposts proudly display the local council’s crest, and in places such as Dorset and portions of Yorkshire, you can find grid references.

Read More: Do You Live Near One? Turnpike Roads & Cottages

The design intricacies didn’t end there; they also influenced the “fingers” of the posts, which indicate the direction of travel.

A trip to Cornwall, home to over 400 enduring fingerposts, or eastward to Norfolk, and you’re likely to encounter fingers with a square termination. Contrastingly, Dorset favors a rounded style, while Somerset opts for a triangular finish.

Red Posts

While the majority of fingerposts are adorned in the classic black and white, there are notable deviations, with some posts decked in red. One such example is the Red Post, which signals the turnoff from the A39 to Horner in Somerset, with similar instances in other counties like Dorset.

The most renowned Red Post is situated at a crossroads along the A31 near Bloxworth, Dorset, and this particular post significantly contributes to the speculation that its origins are tied to the transportation of prisoners.

Red Post finger-post Dorset
The most renowned Red Post is situated at a crossroads along the A31 near Bloxworth, Dorset,

During the era of Judge Jeffreys and his infamous Bloody Assizes, convicts were escorted from Dorchester to Poole harbour for transportation to Australia.

Read More: Ancient Villages Now Sitting on the Bottom of Reservoirs

Close to Red Post, they would arrive at Botany Bay Farm. Here, they spent the night confined, with shackles binding them to the barn wall, before resuming their ominous journey to Poole the following day. Personally I think both are a myth.

The sporadic appearance of red on these posts is shrouded in mystery, but various hypotheses have arisen over the years.

However, the significance or meaning behind a fingerpost’s color became irrelevant during the Second World War, as the government mandated the removal of all signposts as part of its anti-invasion strategies.

Red Post, on the A358 between Taunton and Williton, has been refurbished as part of the SCC Fingerpost Restoration Project.
Red Post, on the A358 between Taunton and Williton, has been refurbished as part of the SCC Fingerpost Restoration Project.

While the posts themselves often stayed put, their “fingers” were detached and sometimes buried nearby. Some were gathered and kept in specific locations, like a council-managed quarry on Exmoor, only to be reinstalled in the late 1940s.

Read More: What Happened to Britain’s Roman Roads?

Over subsequent years, the jurisdiction over these historical markers shifted from local parishes to county authorities and, occasionally, to the national government.

This transition saw many areas forfeit a significant number of their fingerposts, particularly in the 1990s when the Department for Transport classified them as hazardous distractions on major trunk and A-roads.

Worboys Committee

The Worboys Committee’s conclusions, established to reevaluate British road signage, had already precipitated a decline in fingerpost numbers. Their insights culminated in the Traffic Sign Regulations Act of 1964, catalyzing a transformation in signage styles.

A post-Worboys fingerpost with smaller signs for the National Cycle Network (in blue) and the Cumbria Coastal Way footpath (in brown)
A post-Worboys fingerpost with smaller signs for the National Cycle Network (in blue) and the Cumbria Coastal Way footpath (in brown)

This shift was perceived by some as the beginning of the end for traditional fingerposts, with local councils being barred from installing new ones.

Moreover, they were urged to substitute the existing cast-iron posts with contemporary versions. While some counties adopted this recommendation, many others — such as Cumberland, Somerset, Dorset, Sussex, and Cornwall — chose to disregard the government’s suggestion.

Read More: Iron Age Roads: There’s no Such Thing as a Modern Road

Reflecting on the 1960s’ push to supplant original fingerposts, John Woodman, a Somerset County Council cabinet member responsible for Highways and Transport, expressed his sentiments in the introduction to the 2017 “Somerset Traditional Fingerposts: Maintenance, Repair and Restoration Handbook.” He stated, ‘In Somerset, this advice was ignored and I for one am very glad that it was. The result is that Somerset still has a wonderful back catalogue of fingerposts, remaining as iconic landmarks in our countryside and offering a tantalising glimpse into the past.’

Milestone Society

In Cornwall, the sentiment of appreciation for these historical markers is similarly echoed. “What began as a pretext for motorbike rides has, I’m afraid, burgeoned into a full-blown passion,” quips Ian Thompson, a retired teacher and member of the Milestone Society.

Skipton milestone
Skipton milestone

This organisation is dedicated to the discovery, documentation, study, and preservation of waymarkers throughout the UK.

“Despite operating on a shoestring budget, Cornwall Council’s highways contractor, Cormac, performs admirably. Often, it’s the residents or parishes themselves who initiate these projects,” he notes.

Read More: How Railways Reshaped Rural Britain

“Additionally, the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies recently executed a comprehensive survey of cast-iron fingerposts across the county, contributing to the council’s commendable Historic Environment Record,” Thompson continues. “For those acquainted with them, Cornwall’s fingerposts are treasures embedded in our unique landscape.”

So, what does destiny have in store for the myriad of fingerposts that pepper the British countryside?

A glimmer of hope was kindled with a 2005 guidance pamphlet from the Department for Transport and English Heritage, acknowledging the intrinsic worth of these traditional navigational aids and advocating for their preservation and maintenance every half-decade.

Somerset County Council fingerpost in Combe Florey parish
Somerset County Council fingerpost in Combe Florey parish

However, subsequent budgetary constraints have tightened the financial vise on local authorities, compelling a greater reliance on civic bodies and private citizens.

One such initiative is the Fingerpost Project, unveiled by the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership, aiming to mobilize ‘fingerpost champions’ to salvage and refurbish the approximately 700 markers remaining within their bounds.

This trend, where communities actively engage in conservation efforts, is anticipated to gain traction across more counties, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding our rural signposts.