Boundary Stones and Mileposts

Boundary stones, milestones, finger posts and other markers in simple alphabetical order of their initials, name or location. If anyone has more examples or information on their meaning please do get in touch. They are also listed under their location in the main pages.

The first sections are the work of Robert Kemp who set himself the lockdown project of finding and recording as many of the boundary stones above Cwmbran as he could. Not only has he found a great many, he has also recorded the history of the landowners themselves, particularly the Hanburys of Pontypool.

'BH' and 'CHL' - Boundary of Minerals

Scattered along a boundary line from Cwmcarn towards Pontypool are a string of identical boundary stones stating that they are the 'Boundary of Minerals Settled by Act of Parliament 1839'. On one side are the initials 'BH' for Benjamin Hall of Abercarn, later Lord Llanover and on the other side are 'CHL' for Capel Hanbury Leigh of Pontypool Park. There are certainly five stones and probably more.
Robert Kemp's photos and research into the family history of Benjamin Hall is here :- 'Benjamin Hall'
and similarly for Capel Hanbury Leigh :- 'Capel Hanbury Leigh'

'BH Minerals', stone 1	'CHL Minerals', stone 1	'BH Minerals', stone 2	'CHL Minerals', stone 2
'BH Minerals', stone 3	'CHL Minerals', stone 3	'BH Minerals', stone 4	'CHL Minerals', stone 4
'CHL Minerals', stone 5		'BH Minerals', stone 6	'CHL Minerals', stone 6

'CHL' - Capel Hanbury Leigh 1776-1861

Capel Hanbury Leigh was the son of John Hanbury of Pontypool and younger brother of John Capel Hanbury. Like his elder brother, he has a numerous boundary stones with his initials. Most of the smaller stones appear to mark his boundary with John Maund, often with Roman numerals between 1 (I) and 33 (XXXIII), numbers found are '1', '2', '4', '5', '12', '14', '15', '16', '17', '18', '23', '24', '25', '29', '30', '31', '32' and '33'.
Robert Kemp's photos and research into the family history of Capel Hanbury Leigh is here :- 'Capel Hanbury Leigh'
and John Maund is here :- 'John Maund'

'CHL I', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL I', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL II', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL II', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL IV', Capel Hanbury Leigh		'CHL V', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL V', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL XII', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XII', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XII', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL XIV', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XIV', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XV', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XVI', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL XVII', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XVII', Capel Hanbury Leigh		'CHL XVIII', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL XXIII', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXIII', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXIV', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXIV', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL XXV', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXV', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXV', Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXV', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL XXIX', Capel Hanbury Leigh
'CHL XXX, Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXXI, Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXXII, Capel Hanbury Leigh	'CHL XXXIII', Capel Hanbury Leigh

'J C H' - John Capel Hanbury 1775-1795

John Capel Hanbury was the son of John Hanbury of Pontypool and elder brother of Capel Hanbury Leigh. Robert Kemp's photos and research into the family history of John Capel Hanbury is here :- 'John Capel Hanbury'

'J C H' and 'M de S'

Madame de Solignac (M de S) was Jane Griffiths, widow of Charles Griffiths of Llanyravon Farm, who subsequently married a Frenchman and moved to Grandval in France with her new husband. It was alleged in 1979 that the chapel was still paying rent to the Hanbury estate for the small triangle of land belonging to it. (Information from Laurence Skuse)

'JCH' with 'M de S', Madame de Solignac

'MdeS', Madame de Solignac with 'JCH'

'J C H' and 'E'

Hanbury's boundary with Edlogan Parish 'E' is marked by this set of Roman numbered stones. Numbers found so far are '1', '2', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', '10', '11', '14' and '15'.

'JCH I' with 'E'	'JCH I' with 'E'	'JCH I' with 'E'	'JCH I' with 'E'
'JCH II' with 'E'	'JCH II' with 'E'	'JCH II' with 'E'
'JCH V' with 'E'	'JCH V' with 'E'	'JCH V' with 'E'	'JCH V' with 'E'
'JCH VI' with 'E'		'JCH VII' with 'E'	'JCH VII' with 'E'
'JCH VIII' with 'E'	'JCH IX' with 'E'	'JCH IX' with 'E'	'JCH IX' with 'E'
'JCH X' with 'E'	'JCH X' with 'E'
'JCH XI' with 'E'	'JCH XI' with 'E'	'JCH XI' with 'E'
'JCH XIV' with 'E'	'JCH XIV' with 'E'	'JCH XIV' with 'E'	'JCH XIV' with 'E'
'JCH XV' with 'E'	'JCH XV' with 'E'	'JCH XV' with 'E'	'JCH XV' with 'E'

'J C H' and 'MP'

Hanbury's boundary with magna Porta Parish 'MP' is marked by this set of Roman numbered stones.Numbers found so far are '1', '4', '5', '9', '10', '11' and '12'.

'JCH I' with 'MP'	'JCH I' with 'MP'	'JCH I' with 'MP'
'JCH IV' with 'MP'	'JCH IV' with 'MP'	'JCH IV' with 'MP'
'JCH V' with 'MP'	'JCH V' with 'MP'	'JCH V' with 'MP'	'JCH V' with 'MP'
'JCH IX' with 'MP'	'JCH IX' with 'MP'
'JCH X' with 'MP'	'JCH X' with 'MP'	'JCH X' with 'MP'	'JCH X' with 'MP'
'JCH XI' with 'MP'		'JCH XII' with 'MP'

'J C H' and Roman numerals

it looks like there were at least 15 of these stones scattered around the Blaen Bran area of Upper Cwmbran. So far I know of 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 15 so there should be quite a few more somewhere. Anyone want to add to the collection?

'JCH I', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH II', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH IV', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH IV', John Capel Hanbury
'JCH V', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH VI', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH VII', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH IX', John Capel Hanbury
'JCH XI', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH XII', John Capel Hanbury	'JCH XV' on a triangular stone

A to C

A

'A' with 'WL', near Pwlldu	'A', Pwlldu balance shaft	'Abercarn', Mynydd Maen	'Abercarn', Mynydd Maen
'Abercarn', 1977	Aberdare UDC	'Abertillery District Local Board'	'ABC', possibly near Abercarn
'ABM', Aberystruth and Bryngwyn	'AM', possibly Aberystruth Manor	'AM', possibly Aberystruth Manor

B

'B Co', Blaenavon Co.	'B', Marquis of Bute	'B', Marquis of Bute	'B' near Manmoel with 'EV'
'B', C H Burgh of Abercarn Manor	'B' for Breconshire, Blaenavon	'B&A C Co', B&A Canal Co	'BWA' or '5 WA'
'Blaina District Local Board'	'Blaina District Local Board'
'Breach Hill, Chew Stoke', Blagdon	'Blagdon Lake, Butcombe'	'As the crow flies', Bourton

C

'C', possibly for 'Church Lands'	'CB III' on the banks of the Avon	'CCC No2 1861' on Waun Oer	'CCC' on the Somerset Coal Canal
'CLB', for 'Caerphilly Local Board'	'CM', with 'T' on reverse	'No Through Road', Combe Hay	'Midford 1', Combe Hay

Cwmcarn following de-forestation - by Robert Kemp

Robert Kemp has been busy during lock-down searching the newly de-forested areas of Cwmcarn for previously hidden boundary stones. His search has been very productive, revealing a number of 'anonymous' and buried stones, some recorded here with their grid references.
Robert's research into the stones he's found is here :- 'The de-forested areas of Cwmcarn'

Cwmcarn boundary stone 1	Cwmcarn boundary stone 1	Cwmcarn boundary stone 2	Cwmcarn boundary stone 2
Cwmcarn boundary stone 3		Cwmcarn boundary stone 4	Cwmcarn boundary stone 4
Cwmcarn boundary stone 5	Cwmcarn boundary stone 5		Cwmcarn boundary stone 6
Cwmcarn boundary stone 7	Cwmcarn boundary stone 7	Cwmcarn boundary stone 7
Cwmcarn boundary stone 8	Cwmcarn boundary stone 8	Cwmcarn boundary stone 9	Cwmcarn boundary stone 9

D to G

D

'DB', Usk Castle

'D of B. TM', near Trefil Quarry

E

'E' for Edlogan Manor, Blaen Bran, Upper Cwmbran	'E', side 1 of a triangular stone	'E', side 2 of a triangular stone	Ebbw Vale Local Board District
'Edlogan' with 'Abercarn'	'Edlogan', 1977	'Edlogan', Mynydd Maen	'EV' for 'Ebbw Vale' near Manmoel

Edlogan and Abercarn

'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 1	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 1	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 2	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 2
'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 2	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 3	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 3	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 4
'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 4	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 5	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 5	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 6
'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 6	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 7	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 7	'Edlogan Abercarn' stone 7

F

'F Co' unknown at Abersychan

H to L

H

'1910 Highways Department'
'H', probably Hanbury	'H 1789', Hanbury, with 'B'	'H', Hanbury, with 'LL'	'HSA 1876' with 'LJ 1876'

I

'I I I W', Abergavenny

'IM' - John Maund

Robert Kemp's photos and research into the family history of John Maund is here :- 'Capel Hanbury Leigh and John Maund'

'IM', John Maund with 'CHL'	'IM', John Maund with 'CHL I'	'IM', John Maund with 'CHL II'	'IM', John Maund with 'CHL XIV'
'IM XIX', John Maund with 'CHL'	'IM', John Maund with 'CHL XXIV'	'IM' John Maund with 'CHL XXIX'	'IM', John Maund with 'CHL XXXIII'

K

'11 miles to Hobbs Point', Kilgetty

'22 miles to Carmarthen', Kilgetty

'KT TT', with 'WM' on reverse, unknown.

L

'L', either Leigh or Llanover	'L', either Leigh or Llanover	'L', either Leigh or Llanover
'L', either Leigh or Llanover	'L', either Leigh or Llanover	'L', either Leigh or Llanover
'LJ 1876' with 'HSA 1876'
'LL', Lord Llanover, with 'H'	'LL', Lord Llanover	'LL', Lord Llanover

'L', 'L' and 'H' on three-sided stones

Probably 'L' for Llanover and 'H' for Hanbury

'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 1	'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 1	'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 1	'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 1
'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 2	'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 2	'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 2	'L', 'L' and 'H', stone 2

'LUP', Llanfrechfa Upper Parish

One of the parishes covering Mynydd Maen.

'LUP', Llanfrechfa Upper Parish

'LUP', Llanfrechfa Upper Parish

'LUP', Llanfrechfa Upper Parish

M to R

M

'M' for Monmouthshire, Blaenavon	'M' near Henllys, Cwmbran	'M', with 'MP' on reverse	'The Manor of Lanellen'
'The Manor of Park Lettice Lanover'	'MdeS', Madame de Solignac	'MdeS', Madame de Solignac	'Mon C C'
'Monmouth Parish 1857'	Mountain Ash UDC	'MTLB' with 'CLB' on reverse	'MWM', Matthew Moggeridge
'Mynydd Islwyn Highway District'

'MP', Magna Porta

One of the parishes covering Mynydd Maen. Magna Porta means 'Great Gate', in Welsh it is 'Porth Mawr' and was at Llantarnam Abbey.
Robert Kemp's photos and research into 'Magna Porta' and the family history of Reginald J Blewitt is here :- 'Magna Porta and R J Blewitt'

'MP' Magna Porta, Henllys

'MP' Magna Porta with 'JCH I'

'MP' Magna Porta with 'JCH XII'

'MP' Magna Porta with 'JCH XII'

N

'NC'

'Newport C B'

'N M Gas Co'

P

Penderyn fingerpost, Powis	'PG &WCo' near Blaenavon	'PLB', Abertridwr
'P LT', Phillips and Lord Tredegar	'P L & W 1894', Bath

'P I Co' - Pontypool Iron Co of 1851 - 1859

'P I Co', Pontypool Iron Co	'P I Co', Pontypool Iron Co	'P I Co', Pontypool Iron Co
'P I Co', Pontypool Iron Co	'P I Co', Pontypool Iron Co

'PP', Pontypool Parish

One of the parishes covering Mynydd Maen

'PP', Pontypool Parish

'PP', Pontypool Parish

'PP', Pontypool Parish

R

'RR 1774c', Richard Richards

RTR - Richard Thomas Roberts, 1843-1912

Richard Thomas Roberts of Maesgwyn Farm, Upper Cwmbran
Robert Kemp's photos and research into the family history of Richard Thomas Roberts is here :- 'Richard Thomas Roberts'

'RTR', R T Roberts	'RTR', R T Roberts	'RTR', R T Roberts
'RTR', R T Roberts	'RTR', R T Roberts	'RTR', R T Roberts	'RTR', R T Roberts

S to Z, 0 to 9

S

Milestone at Shaldon Bridge

Sand Bay, Somerset

A collection of old Somerset County Council fingerposts at Sand Bay, near Weston-Super-Mare.

Sand Bay SCC fingerpost

Sand Bay SCC fingerpost

Sand Bay SCC fingerpost

Sand Bay SCC fingerpost

T

'T', probably 'Tredegar'

'T FCo', unknown meaning

'TFWB', pipeline marker

Milestone at Tondu, Mid-Glam

W

'WBM', Waunwen, Abersychan	'WBM', Waunwen, Abersychan	'WBM', Waunwen, Abersychan
A headless 'WBM' type post	'W E' near Blaenavon	'Webb', Abertillery
'WL' with 'A', near Pwlldu	'WM', Waunwen, Abersychan	'WM', with 'KT TT' on reverse

0 to 9

'1896 No4', Waunwen, Abersychan

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks to :- Dennis T Baker, John Bradford, Phil Davies, John Gale, John Gibbon, Alan Jones, Nigel Jones, Robert Kemp, John Matthews, Amanda Meyer, Gill Phillips, David Standing, Lawrence Skuse, Rob Southall and Terry Wilson for providing more examples and identification of these boundary markers.
and particularly to 'The Lost Farmsteads of Twmbarlwm and Mynydd Maen' facebook group.
There is a specialist society for milestones and boundary stones :- The Milestone Society