Milestone, London Road, Markyate, Hertfordshire
This milestone was made in the 18th century for the Dunstable-St.Albans-London Turnpike Trust. The Turnpike Act of 1663 meant a toll (fee) had to be paid to travel on certain roads to pay for their upkeep. This lead to the creation in 1706 of Turnpike Trusts - private companies set up to collect the tolls and maintain the roads. This trust was established by Act of Parliament in 1722. It is on the stretch of Watling Street retained by Thomas Telford when he improved The Holyhead Road for mail coaches in the second decade of the 19th century. It was eventually cut off by the A5 bypass that was completed in c1957.
