A REPLICA is being made of an ‘important piece of Launcells’ history’ — a 19th century slate milestone.

The milestone at Launcells went missing and last April there was a plea in the Post for information on its whereabouts, but it proved unsuccessful.

The plea came from Dave Richardson, who at the time said the milestones on the A3072, running East-West from Holsworthy to Bude, were ‘rather special’, as slate is an ‘unusual material for milestones’, making them more susceptible to damage.

He said the A3072 milestones were installed in the 1870s by the Holsworthy District Highways Board on roads radiating from Holsworthy and now there are less than nine remaining.

Of the original 14 on other roads in Devon, few survive and they are very battered, making the group on the A3072 rather special. There is one in Bude-Stratton (the two nearest the coast disappeared decades ago), two in Pancrasweek, and, until recently, there were two in Launcells. The one surviving is near Thurlibeer, but the whereabouts of one at the entrance to Shernick Farm is unknown.

Mr Richardson said: “Although we are replacing the original with a replica, it is important that the run of five milestones on the A3072 is preserved. The other four remaining slate milestones radiating from Holsworthy are now, more or less, isolated examples.”

Thanks to funding from Launcells Parish Council, Launcells History Group, and a successful application to a solar farm fund, a replica is set to be made by a local mason out of an old slab of reclaimed Delabole slate.

It will then have ‘chip technology’ to prevent it being a target for thieves.

Andrew Hargreaves, chairman of Launcells Parish Council, which contributed some funding to have the replica made, said: “We feel this is part of the area’s history and whilst it’s a shame that the original was stolen we feel that the replacement will try to restore something of the original character and characteristic at what was one stage part of the local route to market, and a piece of local history.”

Launcells History Group also contributed funding and, alongside Mr Richardson, successfully applied for further funding for the replica milestone from the East Langford Solar Farm Fund, which supports community projects in the areas of Kilkhampton, Launcells and Morwenstow.

Peter Harwood, chairman of the history group, said: “There are very few slate milestones — the reason is because they are difficult to make! We were so disappointed some vandal had actually stolen it. Part of Launcells’ ancient history has been taken away, so it’s pleasing to be able to find funding — we are very pleased with that.

“What’s even better is we have found a local business to do the work, which is really brilliant.”

Ian Thompson, of the Milestone Society, said: “It is a great shame when a treasured piece of local history is lost, or in this case stolen. I was most impressed by the way local people rallied round to raise money for a replica milestone.

“We were fortunate to be able to locate a suitably large piece of Delabole slate at David Gynn’s ‘Monumental Works’ in Launceston, and David has agreed to make an exact copy, with the aid of photographs and detailed measurements of the original milestone provided from the Milestone Society archives.

“The replica milestone will link with surviving original milestones on either side to complete a unique run of slate milestones, the only one of its kind in Britain.”

Cormac will install the milestone when it is ready, and it will then be ‘inherited’ into their ‘road furniture inventory’.

David Gynn, based in Launceston, told the Post: “I have worked with Delabole slate for 35 years. But this was slightly different because the face of the milestone is not flat, it just slopes back a little bit so it is angled slightly towards the road. It means an awful lot of masoning to a piece of slate.

“Luckily I managed to have a reclaimed piece of Delabole slate. I don’t think they want something totally pristine and brand new — a little bit of age will look nice in that situation.”

Kirsty Philpott, operations manager of the Cornwall Community Foundation, said “It’s a pleasure to work with the local panel investing into the community. It is particularly special when a young fund such as the East Langford Community Fund can support the restoration of a historic milestone.”