Alton is approximately 9 miles from Farnham, and the road, now the A31 and a dual carriageway for most of its length, was an important route in the 18th and 19th century and part of the Winchester Turnpike formed in 1753 from Basingstone, near Bagshot (the modern day junction of the A30 and A325), via Farnham to Alton and beyond to Winchester. There was one tollgate on this section of the turnpike, the Willey Toll Gate, situated at the Surrey/Hampshire county boundary.
All of the eight milestones on the road still exist although anyone driving from Farnham to Alton would only pass three of them, the remainder being on roads that have been by-passed by the dual carriageway. Distances shown on the milestones to London are measured via Bagshot; some also show distances to Winton (Winchester).
The One Mile milestone (1 mile to Farnham, 39 miles to London and 8 miles to Alton)
This milestone is outside Coxbridge Farm, on the north side of West Street, Farnham, about 50 metres to the east of the Coxbridge roundabout.
The milestone is Grade II listed.
View location on map Google Street View image
Photos Lynda Robinson, click on any image for a larger view
The Two Mile Milestone (2 miles to Farnham, 40 miles to London and 7 miles to Alton)
This milestone is in the central reservation of the A31, just to the west of the junction with Chamber Lane, near Willey Place.
The milestone is Grade II listed.
View location on map Google Street View image
Photos Lynda Robinson, click on any image for a larger view
The Three Mile Milestone (3 miles to Farnham, 41 miles to London and 6 miles to Alton)
This milestone is in the lane just to the north of the current A31 by the Bull Inn.
The milestone is Grade II listed.
View location on map Google Street View image
Photos David Lang, click on any image for a larger view
The Four Mile Milestone (4 miles to Farnham, 42 miles to London and 5 miles to Alton)
This milestone is in Bentley, on the south side of the road just to the east of The Rectory.
The milestone is Grade II listed.
View location on map Google Street View image
Photos Lynda Robinson, click on any image for a larger view
The Five Mile Milestone (5 miles to Farnham, 43 miles to London and 4 miles to Alton)
This milestone is on the south side of the road to Lower Froyle where it runs parallel and just to the north of the current A31.
The milestone is Grade II listed.
View location on map Google Street View image
Photos Lynda Robinson, click on any image for a larger view
The Six Mile Milestone (6 miles to Farnham, 44 miles to London and 3 miles to Alton)
This milestone is to the north-east of the Hen & Chicken Inn, to the south-east of the dual carriageway close to where it becomes single lane. In our original survey we believed that this milestone had been lost but we were contacted to say the milestone is still in place. It is located on what was the south-east boundary of the old road in an overgrown (but unfenced) area that is approx 20 metres wide between there and the south-east edge of the modern alignment of the road.
The milestone is Grade II listed.
View location on map Google Street View image
Photos David Lang, click on any image for a larger view
The Seven Mile Milestone (7 miles to Farnham, 45 miles to London and 2 miles to Alton)
This milestone was on the edge of what is now the modern recycling works on the south side of the road.
It (“Bonham’s Milestone”) was resited when the A31 bypass was built to a small lane on the opposite side of the dual carriageway, now a private road leading to Bonham’s Farm. Details of the Grade II listing are here (along with a map showing its current location).
View original location on map
Photos David Lang, click on any image for a larger view
The Eight Mile Milestone (8 miles to Farnham, 46 miles to London and 1 mile to Alton)
This milestone is in Holybourne on London Road, opposite Andrew’s School.
The milestone is Grade II listed.
View location on map Google Street View image
Photos David Lang, click on any image for a larger view