I’ve found these two; one at Snow Hill, the other at the Old Bill and Bull pub (formerly the Hay Mills Police Station). Photos from the Geograph site. Are there others in the area ? And presumably they’re marked on OS maps. Viv
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Benchmarks of Birmingham and nearby
- Thread starter Vivienne14
- Start date
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
The demise of the benchmarks…
www.thenbs.com
The demise of ordnance survey benchmarks
We start by hearing how the UK's network of 200 fundamental benchmarks all stem from a single 'mother' benchmark at Newlyn in Cornwall. We show how the network expanded and we learn why now, in this highly technical modern age, the humble benchmarks' days are over.
www.thenbs.com
pjmburns
master brummie
Hope this link works
Map showing benchmarks - didn't realise there were so many,
Map showing benchmarks - didn't realise there were so many,
Janet Hunt
master brummie
We have one on the Lewis Building, Bull Street
If anyone can post photos of any Birmingham benchmarks, please post on here - before they disappear. Thanks. Viv.
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Covroad
master brummie
The symbol of the crown indicates crown property, some benchmarks can be quite ornate mostly of cast iron , also find them ( if the levels allow) on stone mile markers on roads , the old GPO stone utility markers.
There is a Facebook site that is for Benchmarks.
pjmburns
master brummie
I couldn't find it. However, I am not sure whether it was supposed to be on the house wall (maybe covered by modern extension) or the garden wall.I will have to investigate tomorrow as there is one marked at the end of our road.
devonjim
master brummie
St. Mary's Warwick Rd Acock's Green.
Radiorails
master brummie
OS-Net | Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey produces digital and paper maps and OS MasterMap for business, leisure, government and education, with quality Crown copyright maps of Great Britain.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
I don’t think it is a benchmark. I am sure one of the ex-GPO people will possibly correct me, but I understand this is a GPO underground cable or joint or junction marker. They were quite common in Birmingham, but I assume are not longer used. The arrow is a government mark od ownership.
Covroad
master brummie
The broad arrow or Pheon commonly known as a 'Crows Foot' was used extensively to identify Government property, the most earliest and common use for the broad arrow was on the prisoners in jails or transported to Australia .
Is that also the case for the one in post #9, it looks similar to the one in post #15 ? Viv.
Covroad
master brummie
Yes, the broad arrow shows it it government property, the original broad arrow symbol came from the British military to indicate their ownership of an asset . Where the Bench Mark / Datum has the horizontal bar as a datum point for setting out , surveying, etc.
Note - The Public Stores Act of 1875 lists the symbol, it is a a criminal offence in the United Kingdom to reproduce the broad arrow without authority.
That’s all I have got , back to my painting (glossing) the door frames today .