How many Miles? To Wherever You Like, From Holt , Norfolk.
Posted by: 
greysman
N 52° 54.324 E 001° 05.207
31U E 371329 N 5863460
Originally a gatepost at Melton Constable Park it was given to Holt in 1757.
Waymark Code: WMAB29
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 12/16/2010
Views: 5
The pineapple-topped Obelisk, on Obelisk Plane, Holt, is one of a pair of gateposts from Melton Constable park and given to the town in 1757, the other being given to the town of Dereham. Both gateposts had the distances to various places carved into the stone. But no one knows why the obelisk was given to Holt.
The people of Holt whitewashed their Obelisk at the start of World War II and, after cleaning, it remains in good condition to this day. At the start of World War II, in order to avoid helping the enemy, the town of Dereham dumped their Obelisk down a deep well.
Various reasons are given for the rather misleading mileages given. Some say it is because they refer to its original location, others say they are not mileages as we know them but 'Estate miles'. I have entered the towns given on the milepost into a distance search engine and the mileages to them do differ from those given, but they are nearer correct for Holt than for Melton Constable, disproving the first assumption.
Condition: Worn
Date placed: 01/01/1757
Material: Stone
Inscription:
East face:
To Miles
Blickling 11
Holkham 15
Houghton 20
Rainham 15
Woolterton 8
Felbrigg 9
Cromer 10
North face:
To Miles
Attleburgh 33
Aylsham 12
Buckenham New 36
Dereham 18
Diss 40
Downham 40
Fakenham 12
West face:
To Miles
Harleston 41
Hingham 27
Loddon 33
Lynn Regis 34
NORWICH 21
Reepham 12
Swaffham 28
South face:
To Miles
Thetford 40
Walsham North 16
Walsingham 9
Watton 28
Wells 12
Wymondham 27
Yarmouth 40
Name of road: Obelisk Plain, Holt, Norfolk.
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