Milepost 60 / 32 is by Bridge 129C

This is a replacement post, and warranted a big ceremony as it was the last post to be replaced (Historic photos © Waterway Images).

Unveiling by then Chairman of BWB	Official Photo
Being presented with a certificate	Posing by the Post

The plaque reads:

THIS MILEPOST IS DEDICATED TO
JAMES BRINDLEY 1716-1772
ENGINEER OF THE TRENT AND MERSEY CANAL
REPLACED AND SPONSORED BY THE
TRENT AND MERSEY CANAL SOCIETY
AND UNVEILED BY
SIR LESLIE YOUNG CBE DL
CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD
ON SUNDAY 27^TH OCTOBER 1985
IT MARKS THE END OF THE SOCIETY’S
CAMPAIGN – STARTED IN 1977 – TO REPLACE
34 OF THE MISSING ORIGINAL MILEPOSTS

Here is the milepost in 2020. A closer view shows that the plaque is missing

Milepost in its setting	Closer view of Post and empty Plinth
Head in need of some care and attention	The empty Plinth

View of the milepost and adjacent Bridge 129C (and our boat!)

Comparing the historic and 2020 photographs, it is noticeable that the plinth has been modified since it was originally built (e.g. there are a different number of bricks along the front edge). As part of this rebuilding the plaque was installed ABOVE the level of the plinth rather than set into the plinth, so it would have been relatively easy to lever it off! By looking at the photographs taken by Phil Myott in 2003, it looks like the plinth had been modified by then, but the plaque was still present. To see Phil’s pictures (in a new tab) click HERE  and then click on any picture to enlarge it. Does anybody know when and why the Plinth was rebuilt? [Our guess is that it happened when the bridge was built. Maybe they had to move the milepost?]

and here it is in 2021 (photo © Julie Parsonage)

Page last updated August 2021
(All photos © Roger Evans, unless otherwise shown)
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