Milestone

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing stone and iron milestone, erected c.1825, set into the footpath against the facade of No. 33 Main Street (HB19/05/028).

Tooled granite milestone with pointed top and cast-iron plaque stating: 'Dublin, 70, Dromore, 4, Lisburn, 3'. The stone is leaning against the stone facade of No.33 on the west side of Main Street.

Historical information

This small milestone is situated between No. 31 and 33 on the top half of Main Street. Before the town was bypassed by the Hillsborough Road, Main Street used to run along a major route between Belfast and Dublin. The stone bears the following inscription: Dublin 70, Dromore 4, Lisburn 3 (but strangely not noting the distance to Belfast). These distances were recorded in old Irish Miles which were one-fifth longer than its English equivalent. Irish miles were abolished under the Weights and Measures Act of 1824, however, the Irish Post Office utilised Irish Miles until as late as 1856 (IHS 14 (55): 236).

Brett states that under an Act of Parliament (1805) this milestone was set up by the Irish Post Office along stage coach roads between Belfast and Dublin. The Milestone appears on the Annual Revision maps for the area (1877-1903) where is called a 'mile post.' Brett states that milestones of this type are now very rare in Ulster and that this particular post was probably set up in 1824 at the same time when the road was restored.

This milestone was listed category B in 1976.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI VAL/1/B/344 A-B – Townland Valuations 1834
2. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/14 – Field Map 1834
3. PRONI D671/M/8/25 – Hillsborough Map c.1800
4. PRONI D671/M/8/57/1 – Hillsborough Illustrated Map 1803
5. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
6. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
7. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902-1903
8. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-1920
9. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/45A-C – Griffith’s Valuation 1856-64
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14A – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14C – Annual Revisions 1890-1908
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14D – Annual Revisions 1909-1928
14. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14E – Annual Revisions 1928-1930

Secondary Sources

1. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in the towns and villages of Mid Down: Hillsborough, Dromore, Dromara, Ballynahinch, the Spa, Drumaness and Saintfield’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1974.
2. Irish Historical Studies Vol. 14, No. 55, p. 236.

NIEA File – HB19/05/026.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Free-standing stone and iron milestone, erected c.1825. A rare survivor of the early nineteenth-century postal service which adds interest to the historic terrace, at Main Street in Hillsborough. Set up by the Irish Post Office along stage coach roads between Belfast and Dublin, the stone bears the inscriptions Dublin 70, Dromore 4, Lisburn 3, but strangely doesn’t note the distance to Belfast.

General comments

Listing Criteria R, S and T also apply.