b'MilestonesKate PrattD riving into York one day, Mike and I saw a man painting the milestone on the A166between Bishop Wilton lane andthe AA box on Garrowby corner. We stopped to ask him what he was doing, and he told us that it was one of his jobs to maintain these items of street furniture.Once I had noticed milestones, I became interested in them, and made a point of checking the others in our parish; they are all on the A166, and date from the late 18th century, from the time when this road was turnpiked.The York-Kexby Bridge-Garraby Hill Turnpike Trust was formed in 1765 and lasted until 1872.There are a total of 4 milestones within the parish, which is quite surprising. They are marked on OS maps by the initials MS. All are located on the southern side of the A166, and are of the same form, being a two-stepped granite mounting block, with a cast iron plate on the front, and an incised cartouche on the back.It is likely that the metal plate was added later. Each also has an incised arrow-head which is the bench mark of the Ordnance Survey, showing where the exact height above sea-level has been measured. Starting at the York end of the parish, the first milestone (York 11 miles) is located in the lay-by west of the Youlthorpe road. This one has not been renovated - perhaps it was missed as it is set fairly low down. It is, however, in a good state of repair.front has been repainted and the information on the back is legible.The next one is on Garrowby Hill, opposite the memorial cross to King George. It has also been repainted, but the carving on the back is almost illegible.There should have been a fifth one, in the lay-by just past Cot Nab. The line of the road has been altered here in recent years, and the milestone has perhaps been a casualty of this reorganisation.The next one is between the 2 roads to Bugthorpe,Having become sensitised to milestones, I have east of the lay-by on the southern side of the road,started noticing many more of them on my travelsset beside the road rather than in by the hedge. Therethere are at least 3 more on the way into York, and is no metal mileage plate on the front, and there aremany on the A1079.A book on the history of the signs of damage from its removal. The back is nicelymilestone has been published - Marking the Miles by legible. Carol Haines - and I have joined a Society dedicated The third milestone (York 13 miles) is the first oneto their preservation (visit www.milestonesonline.that came to my attention, and is included with theco.uk).listed buildings in the village. The metal plate on the BULLETIN 4 49'