Historic Grade II-listed milestone which has stood between two Welsh market towns for more than 260 years could be dug up to make way for new modern homes
A historic Grade-II listed milestone, which has stood between two Welsh market towns for more than 260 years, could be dug up to make way for new modern homes.
Located along the A483 between Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells is a series of ‘well preserved’ 18th century milestones which are of ‘considerable historic value’.
Plans have been now approved by Powys County Council to build four homes and two garages near to where one of the milestones is located, which means it needs to be moved ‘carefully’.
Instructions on how to carefully remove the milestone, believed to have been erected in 1759, have been submitted as part of the application for listed building consent.
If its removed the milestone will be refurbished and repainted, because its lettering has ‘largely weathered away’. Its inscription which reads ‘To Ye Wells’ and ‘to Builth 6M’ has been partially obscured by the build-up of tarmac.
A historic Grade-II listed milestone, which has stood between two Welsh market towns for more than 260 years, could be dug up to make way for new modern homes
Outline planning permission for the four homes and two garages was granted in 2017, and detailed plans were approved in August this year
Milestones were first brought to Britain by the Romans. This series of milestones were listed in 2004 due to their ‘special historic interest’.
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The proposed removal of the milestone follows the granting of outline planning permission for four homes and two garages at the former Greenacre Garden Centre in Howey.
One of the homes, which will have three bedrooms, will be sold as affordable housing, while the remaining three properties which have four-bedrooms will be sold on the open market.
A report submitted to the council earlier this month states: ‘The milestone is of considerable historic interest in relation to the development of roads in the area and also to the development of the wells, 100 years before the railway opened the spa to greater numbers of visitors.’
The historical impact assessment stated that the stone had the appearance of ‘a local glacial erratic boulder roughly dressed to give a smooth face with a weathered top to shed water’.
If its removal is approved, the area around the stone will have to be excavated, to establish the base, and the stone will then have to be lifted out of the ground carefully so it is clear of earth and roots.
The inscription on the milestone reads ‘To Ye Wells’ and ‘to Builth 6M’. This has been partially obscured by the build-up of tarmac.
A report on how to remove it states: ‘Immediately transfer and secure to a pallet, forklift to a location well away from the working area and cover with a tarpaulin until relocating.
‘On completion carefully clean off the inscribed face by hand and redecorate the lettering in black on a white background.’
Outline planning permission for the homes was granted in 2017 and detailed plans were approved in August this year.
A decision on the listed building consent is expected to be made by the council before December 3, 2023.
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