Stoned

I HAVE visited the Surrey town of Coulsdon at least eight times this year, but it was only this week that I learnt two interesting facts about the area.

First, and definitely of lesser interest, is that Coulsdon is officially regarded as part of London, coming under the borough of Croydon (whether Croydon is really London is another matter).

Second, I discovered I have been unwittingly walking past a milestone that is probably the best part of 300 years old.

Under a railway bridge on the A23 near Coulsdon South station

It is inscribed on three sides:

XIV

MILES

FROM

WESTMINSTER

BRIDGE
37½

MILES

TO

 

Unfortunately the bottom line (on all three sides) is unclear, but I would guess it originally read BRIGHTON.

If so, that contradicts my long-held belief that the distance from London to Brighton is about 60 miles.

I also find it surprising that the northerly distance is given to Westminster Bridge, rather than to Charing Cross, which I thought was the usual London measuring point (but perhaps it wasn't in the 18th century), or to somewhere in the City of London.

Anyway, it is a reminder of an age before GPS and Google Maps.