Fingerpost at Pont Newydd, Trecastle

Cadw's description

Location

500m south of Trecastle, on the east side of Chapel Street at the Pont Newydd junction.

History

Early C20 / inter-war fingerpost first shown on the 1948 OS map, published 1953,

Erected by Breconshire County Council after the 1888 Local Government Act gave responsibility for roads to each County Council, Breconshire County Council itself formed 1889.

Many finger posts were removed in 1939-1941 in response to the threat of German invasion, more in the 1960s as design changed, and more again in the 1990s where they were considered a distraction to drivers, so this is a rare survivor.

Exterior

Cast iron finger post with three indicator arms. Banded black and white post. Raised black lettering on white. Top arm points south with “CRAY 2 ½ / DEFYNOCK 3”, lower arm pointing east marked “TRECASTLE ½” and pointing west “PONT AR HYDFER 1 / CWMWYSG 2”. Post topped with annular inscribed “BRECON COUNTY”. No visible foundry marking.

Reason for designation

Included for its special architectural interest as a rare surviving example of an early C20 fingerpost, a type of street furniture once common but now increasingly rare.