IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Meigle, BLAIRGOWRIE, PH12 8QS

Round bales beside the A94. There was a hedge trimmer at work to the left, taking advantage of the stubble. If they chose to plant winter crops, the field could be ploughed, cultivated and sown within days, so the window for other activities on the land could be short.

The earliest form of cultivation consisted simply of scratching the soil with a branch or antler to enable a seed to be buried. Early ploughs did no more than this. Later models were designed to bury the remains of the previous crop and surface debris. The Romans designed a plough with stout iron teeth mounted on a wooden sole which turned the soil. Celts and Romans, using light ploughs, adopted the practice of cross-ploughing, so that their fields tended to be almost square. The Saxons, using a heavy, eight-oxen plough, made their fields long to reduce the number of turns. The old English furlong, one-eighth of a mile, is derived from ‘furrow long’. The earliest mould-board plough, similar to that used today, dates from Saxon times. But the really modern mould-board dates from the 18th century with the introduction of iron. Double-furrow ploughs, pulled by two horses, were common until tractors were introduced. Today, powerful tractors pull banks of ploughs which cut many furrows at the same time. Soon the bales of will be opened and the straw spread across the fields to protect the crowing crops of fruit or vegetables.

Milepost by the A94, in parish of Meigle (District), near Drumkilbo Cottage, on grass verge, North side of road. Inscription reads:- : 11 / TO / FORFAR : : MEIGLE 1¼ / CO.ANGUS / 6¼ : : 19 / TO / PERTH : Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: PK_PTFR19

Milepost beside the A94. The inscription tells the distances to Meigle, Co. Angus, Forfar and Perth. Milestones/posts 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 show on two faces, and the distance from it. For a wider view Image

The milepost stands beside the A94. Milestones/posts are the original roadside heritage features with many dating back hundreds of years and these historic items are under threat from highway developments.

Beside the A94.