Conservation Guidance

Over the past decade, the Society has built up considerable expertise in the conservation and restoration of milestones and mileposts, assessing the effectiveness of various treatment methods. Where to position or reinstate milestones and safe working practices also feature in the policy and guidance notes that have been developed in discussion and conjunction with other interested bodies including English Heritage and Highways Authorities.

Milestone Society Policy and Guidance

Current versions of policies and guidance are listed below with links to downloadable copies. Each document has been through several iterations and although most of the content is now fixed, users should check the date and version number of any copies made from this list.

Surveying Milestones

• A Generic Risk Assessment for surveying milestones
• Milestone Society Survey Sheet
• A Glossary of Terms used in describing Milestones, Fingerposts and Waymarkers

Conservation and Site Work on Milestones

• Policy Note 1: Position and Conservation of Milestones
• Policy Note 2: Appropriate Levels of Conservation for Milestones
• Guidance on Conservation of Milestones and other Waymark features

attached to this Guidance:

• Appendix 1 - a list of suppliers of relevant materials and services
• Appendix 2  A Generic Risk Assessment for work on milestones

English Heritage approved restoration guidelines for milestones

Conservation Guidance for Milestones (2.2MB)

Practical Examples of Milestone Conservation

• Restoration Case Study - East Yorkshire (3.5MB) - a metal plate and its stone mounting block
• Grade II Listed Stone, A34, West Berkshire
• Stone, Butterleigh, Tiverton
• Grade II Listed Stone, Kennett, Swindon
• Grade II Listed Stone, Vale of the White Horse
• Stone, Vale of the White Horse
• Stone, A4,  Kennett
• Examples of restorations of metal mileposts in Cheshire

Department for Transport, Advisory Leaflet 6/05. "Traditional Direction Signs", providing advice on the use of traditional direction  signs, on the repair and conservation of existing examples and guidance on their re-introduction in appropriate locations.:
 
English Heritage's guidance for the sustainable management of the historic environment. See especially p51, Routine Management and Maintenance: