Chapter XIII

MILES
FROM
WESTMINSTER
BRIDGE
--
38-1/2
MILES
TO
BRIGHTON

The character of the lettering and the general style of this series would lead to the supposition that they are dated about 1820. There are three stones in all of this kind, the third marking 15 miles from Westminster Bridge and 36-1/2 to Brighton, followed by a series of triangular cast-iron marks, continued through Redhill, of which the first bears the legend, "Parish of Merstham." On the north side is "16 from Westminster Bridge, 35 to Brighton," and on the south "35 from Brighton, 16 to Westminster Bridge." It will be observed that in this first one of a new series half a mile is dropped, and henceforward the mileage to Brighton becomes by authority 51 miles. Like the confectioner who "didn't make ha'porths," the turnpike trust which erected these mile-"stones" refused to deal in half miles.