Page 91 - Bulletin 14 2010

87

THE MILESTONES ALONG MAIN ROAD
CAPE TOWN TO SIMON’S TOWN

Mike Walker

Milestones in history

According to Benford (2002) milestones were introduced into Britain during the time of Imperial
Rome. During the Roman Occupation soldiers and supplies moved rapidly along metalled roads

and every thousandth double-step pace was marked with a large circular stone (Latin mille =
thousand), a distance of 1618 yards. Milestones not only marked the way but also aided time-

keeping. Few of them have survived the vicissitudes of history whole and in situ. One stands on

the road to Vindolanda Fort, close to Hadrian’s Wall. (Fig. 3.1.) Others are housed in museums.

Roads deteriorated after the Roman departure in the fifth century as maintenance fell away. The

revival of trade and growth of towns during the Middle Ages stimulated the development of
roads and the transport of mails by post-coach. Because charges were based on the distance

covered the measure of distance had to be standardized: the standard or statute mile of 1760 yards
th
was introduced at the end of the 16 century but did not come into general use for another
hundred years. During the reign of Charles II John Ogilby (1600-76) proposed a survey of
England’s roads and became the first cartographer to use the ‘new’ statute mile. Ogilby and his

team of surveyors walked the national roads measuring compass directions and gradients, and

recording distances by using a wheel dimensurator.

Each mile was marked on maps and in time mileposts, milestones and mile markers were erected
along roads to show the exact distances. In 1766 it became obligatory to mark each mile on the

toll, or turnpike, roads so that there could be accurate pricing and timing of journeys, and
stagecoach drivers would know how to keep to their schedules.