Milepost 61 / 31  is at Harecastle Tunnel (South End)

This is a replacement milepost, sponsored by Christopher Skelhorne (Chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent branch of the IWA) and his family, also by David and Alison Clarke and family . It was unveiled by Brian Haskins (Northwich Area Engineer, BWB) on Sunday 30th October 1983. Brian is shown on the left of the milepost with Christopher Skelhorne, David Clarke and Harry Arnold on the other side.

Milepost in 2017	Unveiling Ceremony (photo © Waterway Images)
Certificate awarded to David and Alison Clarke (photo © David Clarke)	Plaque in 2017

Unusually, this milepost is NOT at its original location, which is why the lettering is painted over (as the mileages are therefore wrong by around half a mile). The original milepost was sited on the horse path above the tunnel, a location “no longer available”, as another plaque explains.

There are two other plaques here. The first commemorates the re-enactment on 3rd July 1966 of the cutting of the first sod (which took place nearby on 26th July 1766). The final plaque is a much more recent Transport Trust Plaque on a nearby building.

Plaque explaining re-siting (photo © Waterway Images)	Plaque commemorating the re-enactment of  the first sod ceremony
Milepost and 3 plaques	Finally a more modern plaque

Finally, two pictures of the overall scene

Tunnel Ventilation House	Old Brindley tunnel on the left. Boarded-up tunnel keepers house in centre

Page last updated November 2020 (tidied January 2021)
(All photos © Roger Evans, unless otherwise shown)
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