Fingerpost on junction of Offa’s Road and West Street

Cadw's description

Location

On the W side of the junction of Offa’s Road (B4355) and West Street, at the point where they join Knucklas Road.

History

Finger post on the A488 giving directions to Llandrindod Wells, Bleddfa and Penybont, and Beguildy. The sign to Beguildy is a replacement, possibly replacing an arm giving directions to the north of the A488.

Erected by Radnor County Council after the 1888 Local Government Act gave responsibility for roads to each County Council, so late C19 or early C20. The A488 is a cross-country and cross-border A-road linking Shrewsbury with, originally Llandrindod Wells, now Penybont and the junction with the A44. This finger post predates to realignment of the A488 to the south of the town of Knighton along the line of Ffydd Road (previously designated the B4355). The A488 originally followed the line of Offa’s Road and West Street.

Exterior

Cast iron finger post with three arms (one replacement). Plain post, banded black and white, moulded capital. Two arms with raised lettering, above with ‘LLANDRINDOD WELLS 18 ½’ below with ‘BLEDDFA 6 ¾ PENYBONT 13 ½’, both with ‘A488’ in a box. Later arm ‘BEGUILDY 8’. Post topped with ring inscribed ‘RADNOR CC’.

Reason for designation

Included, notwithstanding the replacement of one of the arms, for its special architectural interest as a rare surviving example of an late C19 / early C20 fingerpost, a type of street furniture once common but now increasingly rare.