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West End, ANSTRUTHER, KY10 3RH

Milestone with cast-iron cap on Anstruther Road in Crail.

The milestone stands beside the A917, Anstruther Road on the outskirts of Crail. Milestones are the original roadside heritage features with many dating back hundreds of years and these historic items are under threat from highway developments.

The milestone stands beside the A917, Anstruther Road. Milestones did not come into general use until the Turnpike Act of 1766 made them compulsory on turnpike roads, these roads were built by private enterprise under licence from the Government and maintained by tolls on those who used them. Before this Act milestones were put up occasionally, often as charitable acts and commemorations. Many Turnpike Act stones still exist. They are usually 2-3 ft high, with the initial letter or abbreviation of the nearest market town shown on two faces, and the distance from it. For a wider view Image

Newly refurbished milestone on Anstruther Road in Crail.

The Ordnance Survey cut mark is on the side of the milestone. For a wider view of the stone Image and for further information on the bench mark and others in the area http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm38156

The Fife Coastal Path turns to the left at this point.

Entering from the west, that is. The junction on the right is with West Braes.

According to Canmore [https://canmore.org.uk/site/305811/crail]: 'This milestone is situated on the SE side of the A917 public road in the SW end of Crail. It comprises a dressed sandstone block measuring 0.39m square by 0.66m in height and it is missing its cast-iron information cap, the E face of which once indicated the distances of 2¾ mile to Kilrenny, 14¼ miles to Largo Pier and 32 miles to Burntisland. The W face indicated the distances of ¼ mile to Crail and 3½ miles to Kingsbarns. There is an Ordnance Survey benchmark on the NE face of the stone'. The stone with its missing cast-iron cap was photographed by the Milestone Society [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6095591], but the cap had been replaced by 2011, when it appears to have been recently painted [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2795327]. It is now showing some rusty areas, and would benefit from another repaint.

A type by the A917, in parish of Crail (Fife District), West end of Crail, Mayview, between West Braes and Temple Crescent. Metal cap lost. Carved benchmark on North face. Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: FF_CRAN00

The red-roofed bungalow is on the far side of the main Anstruther road.