A numbered finger post of Westmorland

Numbered cast iron finger posts (or guide posts) are found throughout old Westmorland and were made by Joseph Bowerbank at the Victoria Foundry in Penrith. The first ones were made in 1894 and many were erected over the next decade.  These posts have distinctive shaped arms and iron cast collars. These historic Victorian numbered posts are unique to Westmorland and most of them have been replaced.but about 30 remain.

This finger post has two arms pointing coastwards.  The sign’s position well away from any roads carrying motorised traffic is rather unusual but when it was erected over 100 years ago the inland paths would have been very important thoroughfares. 

I thought this was really interesting so had to tell the story so that I wouldn’t forget when I finally get home.