OVER the past three years, the Basingstoke Heritage Society, established in 1989, has taken a great interest in the many milestones that are set into the ground by the side of roads in and around the town.

Consulting and examining various Ordnance Survey maps which dated back to 1873, the society decided to search for the 67 stones recorded on the maps during May to July in 2001.

The town ones, which totalled seven on the maps, were found to have been reduced to four – the other three could not be located.

The four were found in Worting Road (two), Winchester Road and London Road.

The country stones were not so easy to find as they were hidden in undergrowth, and a certain amount of nettle stings and scratches were received in locating them.

Of the 67 stones, only 36 were found altogether, but another search in early 2002 revealed another five, bringing the total in the Basingstoke borough to 41.

Both the borough council and Hampshire County Council have taken an interest in the search for milestones in this part of Hampshire and have both declared that any maintenance on the stones would be carried out in their respective areas.

A few of the milestones have already been repainted on the main roads around Basingstoke, thus preserving a small but impressive part of our heritage.

Milestones date back to the Roman times, during the construction of the Roman roads, one of which lies to the west of Basingstoke.

Although part of the old trackway was still there back in the 1960s, hardly anything exists today of what was the main road between Silchester and Winchester 2,000 years ago.

The present milestones were set into the ground during the 17th and 18th centuries by Turnpike Trusts, which were also responsible for the tollgates and houses that were built to collect money for the repair of the roads of that time, following the Turnpike Act of 1767.

Milestones were useful to those travelling long distances into areas with which they were not acquainted. It was also reassuring for people to know that they were only so many miles from their destination in the days before signposts were erected. Even at night the white stone could be seen in the dimness and a lantern light would confirm where the person was. If he was walking, the stone would often be used as a seat.

During the Second World War most of the roads’ signposts were removed to stop any German parachutists trying to find out where they had landed. Unfortunately, some local authorities in England forgot about the milestones, and, although many were almost unreadable, they still gave some idea of location.

The protection and survival of the milestones is deemed an essential part of preserving these historic items by historians and other people interested in the country’s past.

Much has been lost to development of the towns and cities, especially in the south of England, and the work of these heritage societies is helping to preserve our history for the future generations.