Long Causeway Milestone 5 (Redmires Road)

Milestone 5 is in use as a gatepost on the south side of Redmires Road (Sheffield), about 160 m to the east of the junction with Soughley Lane, near Wyming Brook Farm.

Other site, structure or landscape

Assets that cannot fit any of the other categories. This category includes sites of archaeological interest, where the original form and function may not be apparent without the use of archaeological techniques and interpretation.

Asset type

Structure - Milestone/Milepost

Age

Milestone originally erected in 1738.

Rarity

An integral part of the Long Causeway routeway, running between Sheffield and Hathersage via Stanage Pole. Milestone 5 is one of three remaining milestones on this route within the Sheffield City boundary. The erection of milestones indicate this was a busy route. In the late 18th century, when land nearby was enclosed to allow more equally-sized fields to be laid out, the causeway was realigned and Milestone 5 became redundant. Fortuitously though, Milestone 5 has survived – it could easily have been recycled as building stone. Of the others, the original Milestone 3 is now in Weston Park Museum, and Milestone 6 lies at the bottom of Redmires Upper Reservoir.

Group Value

The visible remains of the Long Causeway within the Sheffield City boundary comprise three milestones and a stretch of track. The rough track, which runs uphill from Redmires Upper Reservoir to Stanage Pole, is well used as a popular walking route from Redmires to Stanage Edge and beyond. Some flagstones can still be seen. The other two milestones are as follows: Milestone 3: A roughly-cubic stone, also dating from 1738, was affixed to the top of an ancient waymarker at Hallam Head (on Redmires Road), known as the Barncliff Stoop. The present milestone is, however, a replica dating from 2002 - the original is in Weston Park Museum. The Barncliff Stoop is Grade II listed (List Entry 1389517). Milestone 6: A rough-hewn stone erected in 1738. It stood close to a farm and a smithy, both of which were demolished when Redmires Upper Reservoir was constructed in 1854. Since then it has been submerged off the eastern edge of the reservoir, apart from the four times that the waters have been drained to allow repairs and maintenance - in 1911, 1974, 2007 and 2018. Its simple inscription reads “from Sheffield 6”. A photograph of the milestone is shown on the information board at Redmires Upper reservoir. A fully illustrated book, ‘The Long Causeway’ by Howard Smith, covers the history of the Long Causeway route from probably Roman times to the present, describing the area through which it passes, how the road was used throughout the years, and the impact the road itself had. Three more recent (19th Century) mileposts on the Sheffield to Glossop turnpike road (now the A57), within the Rivelin Valley have Grade II Listed status. Historic England List entries: 1314574, 1132861, 1314536.

Historic Interest

The Long Causeway and the remaining milestones are a very important part of Sheffield heritage, and of historical significance, being the remains of a major route running between Sheffield and Hathersage. For many centuries this was the most important highway to the West from Sheffield. Giving access to the Hope Valley and beyond, it climbs almost continuously for seven miles from the city centre through Crosspool to Hallam Head, dipping to cross the Blackbrook at Lodge Moor. The last three miles travels through farmland before rising through rough moorland to reach Stanage Pole, standing at 1,437 feet high (438 metres). From Stanage Pole, the Causeway crosses into Derbyshire and descends to Hathersage. It is possible that an alignment laid down by the Roman military was the approximate route of the later Causeway, although recent research has suggested there may have been some deviation. For most of its history the route was primarily a packhorse route, though there is evidence that the road was used by carts and very occasionally private coaches. Eventually the surface became badly rutted, difficult and dangerous. Flagstones known as causeys were laid down to provide sure footing. Long stretches became known as ‘Causeways’.

Landmark Status

Whilst the Barncliff Stoop is a prominent feature beside Redmires Road at Hallam Head, and the Long Causeway track from Redmires Reservoir to Stanage Pole is a popular walking route, Milestone 5 probably goes largely unnoticed as it is used as a field gatepost - it deserves greater recognition.

18 Sep 2023

29 Sep 2023