Military Boundary Stones

Boundary stones, not to be confused with Ordnance Survey datum points, are somewhat of an enigma. Historically they delineate boundaries of military sites, however, their use is not consistent – some sites have them, others do not, and as for design, there are many different styles. Their use appears to extend as far back as the end of the 18th century, through the construction of early 19th-century Napoleonic forts up until post-WW2 sites. They are present around sites that have no visible boundary fence, such as military training areas or ranges, in just as much frequency as sites that have large boundary walls into which the stones are either built or lie at the base.

Marked with the broad arrow or crow’s foot, this symbol was the mark of the Board of Ordnance and has been in use since 1699 on ‘stores of war’ belonging to the Board. In 1805 this mark was extended to all ordnance stores in use by ‘His Majesty’s Service.’ The only real variation to this was stones placed by the Admiralty, which are adorned with the ‘fouled anchor.’ The Board of Ordnance was disbanded in 1855 after which it became the War Department. However, some stones are marked with the letters BO and the broad arrow; which is believed to denote Boundary of the (Board of) Ordnance as opposed to Board of Ordnance.

What were the rules for erecting stones?

Throughout the course of my research, it has been difficult to ascertain what the rules for military boundary stones were. The only definitive guidance I have in my possession comes from part I of the 1910 Regulations for Engineer Services (Peace). This regulation states:

145. Boundary stones are required where their omission might result in encorachments on W.D. property; their use will be limited to cases where this boundary is not otherwise adequately defined.

No alteration is to be made in the position of or the marks on any boundary stone and no new stone is to be fixed without W.O. authority.

149. The C.R.E. is responsible that the boundary limes of all W.D. property are perambulated and that all lettings and lands subject to clearance rights are inspected by an officer at least once a year. (…) He will see that each boundary stone is in its proper place, that no alteration has occurred in the position of the fence or other dividing line running from stone to stone, and that no infrimgement of the clearance rights has taken place.

WD, War Department; WO, War Office; CRE, Corps (of the) Royal Engineers

There is very little specific archive material held on boundary stones, in particular relating to policy. A discussion in 1956 around the costs associated with the erection of. boundary markers highlighted the point that “there is no legal obligation to provide boundary stones but they are used for clear demarcation of WD land.”

Modern MOD boundaries are still often marked with stones, especially in the case of large training areas or ranges where the bounding of the land by a fence would be unpracticable or undesirable. GOV.uk states that “boundary markers are used to mark the boundary of a site where a natural boundary or fence does not exist.” The guidance, derived from the Military Lands Act 1892 is suitably vague and there is no specific requirement to erect stones. There is a requirement for land to be marked if it is governed by bye-laws; how would it be possible to prosecute for trespass when the public was unaware of the extent of War Department lands?

The act does not specify how the boundaries are to be marked. It says only that the Secretary of State must “cause the boundaries of the area to which the byelaws apply to be marked, and the byelaws to be published, in such manner as appears to him to be necessary to make them known to all persons in the locality…” (section 17(1)).

GOV.uk guidance on MOD boundary markers. Published 28 March 2018. Accessed 11 April 2023

Map markings

Just like the rules for erecting boundary stones were at local discretion, this discretion also seems apparent when as to how and when they are marked on maps. The section below is a short compilation of some of these variations in the hope that it will help you identify possible military boundary stones (or what isn’t a military stone) when conducting your research.

Dating the Stones

Dating any stone marked with the arrow in isolation is inherently difficult as their construction and design varied depending on where, when and who was commissioning them. The implication that stones were placed at the time of construction or development is one assumption that has to be made when attempting to date stones. One case study I have used is the site at Fort Halstead:

Originally constructed as a London Mobilisation Centre in the 1890s, maps of the site (Map 1) clearly show stones (WD BS) placed in sequential order (1 – 8) around the land purchased for the site. The site was subsequently sold in 1921 and fell into private ownership. At this stage, the fort was no longer property of the War Department, so it makes sense that the stones denoting ownership were removed – which might explain why none of the original stones, as mapped, appear to be extant. However, another feasible explanation may be that as the site developed after its repurchase in the 1930s and the boundary extended past the original 3 acres old stones were removed or repurposed as the boundary was pushed. As to when the siting or relocating of boundary stones occurred, I can find no evidence to state when. this would occur.

What does exist, however, are three styles of stone (triple image below). Placed around what is now the external boundary of the site, far larger than the original fort and WW2 expansion are stones of style 2 below. These stones are rendered in concrete with very crisp numbers (although if every number was sequential, there are a lot of stones missing) and WD markings (pre-1964, most likely from the late 1940s expansion of the site). The placement of these stones is to the south and west, along the boundary that has not changed since WW2. I am led to believe there are some of this style of boundary stone inside the current site marking where the WW2 site boundary lay.

Style 1 below is the first stone on the approach to the modern site from the public road. It appears to be solid concrete and sits outside the perimeter laid by style 2 stones. It is unclear if a number is also on the stone but below the surface of the present ground – the fact that this sits much lower may also be evidence it possibly predates the others (circa the 1930s). I am confident that this stone is WW2 and predates styles 2 and 3.

Style 3 is a simple MOD post most obviously lacking the crow’s foot on the previous stones (circa 1964+) and would have been added as the site expanded in the 1960s. MOD stones are only present to the north of the site where the boundary was pushed out, while the remainder of what is the original perimeter has concrete block stones throughout. The practice of recording BS stones on OS maps has now stopped – as to when the practice ceased, is unclear.

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Boundary stones could generally be placed into broad categories:

1. BO – 1597 until 1855. It is unclear when the use of boundary stones began.
2. Fouled anchor – Admiralty existed from 1801 to 1964.
3. AM – Air Ministry only in existence from 1918 to 1964.
4. WD – War Department was formed following the disbandment of the BO in 1855.
5. WD (dated) – Example dated 1868. No dated examples seem to be before the 1860s or post-1890s.
6. MOD – As of 1st April 1964 any new boundary stones erected on the boundary of lands used for military purposes will be enfaced “M.O.D. ⬆ B.S. No. XX” from the Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964, Wording of Lands Notices, Bylaws.

The following markings can be found on stones alongside the broad arrow:

• BO – Boundary of the (Board of) Ordnance
• BS – Boundary Stone
• WD – War Department
• A – Admiralty
• AM – Air Ministry
• MOD – Ministry of Defence
• No. X – Number (sequential)

Below are some examples of stones that I have recorded for which a date can be quite reliably placed:

Design evolution

Some of the earliest specifications for boundary stones I can find come from the Schedule of prices for works and repairs to buildings, &tc. The first edition I have in my collection is from 1939, with subsequent publications dating from 1948 and 1961. This allows us to track the cost of stones for the middle of the twentieth century.

Description	1939	1948	1961
Boundary stones (3 ft long, 12 ins. in section) described above	£2 2s 3d	£2 18s 0d	£7 5s 6d
Price adjusted for 20231Calculated using the National Archives currency converter rounded up or down to the nearest year – https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter/	£83.12	£90.50	£152.49

There is also useful guidance on the specification of the stone to be used. Two terms are in use throughout; hard freestone, and soft freestone. Hard freestone has equivalence to Portland (Whitbed) stone, and soft freestone has equivalence to Bath stone. In relation to the dressing of the dressed plain face of the stones, hard freestone was to be rubbed, and soft freestone finely combed. This should help us identify the stone used.

The stones to be prepared from Portland or other hard freestone of approved description and quality. The exact letting to be cut on each boundary or tablet stone will be stated on the order.

Boundary stones average 3 ft. long (12 ins. by 12 ins. in section). Upper 18 ins. of stone dressed (plain face) and lower 18 ins. left rough, top edges chamfered. Stones to be inscribed “W⬆D” in 3-in. sunk block letters, and “No. 00” in 2-in. sunk block letters, as ordered. Carefully fix in the exact position marked out, including excavaion, return, fill, ram, and remove surplus soil.

Schedule of prices for works and repairs to buildings, &tc. of the War Department, 1939

There is no specification for precast concrete boundary stones, despite the archives directing their use in 1948.

Military stone design compendium

I have put together a gazetteer of boundary stone designs and patterns to aid in their identification and characterisation. This is not a complete list of variations, only those I have recorded myself or been given to reproduce. Like much historic research, this is a dynamic list and as new information comes to light I will ensure the list is updated.

Ordnance Board (BO)

Image	Details
	A carved stone column, square in profile, with a flat top. The text is carved in a Serif old-style typeface, with the chevron of the broad arrow and vertical line segment being equal in thickness; the line not extending beyond the lowest point of the chevron. The broad arrow is centrally aligned on the stone and is flanked by the letters B, to the left, and O, to the right. The letters are carved in the top corners of the front face of the stone, with the tip of the broad arrow starting at the halfway height of the letters. TEXT – “BO” for Board of Ordnance MOTIF – A narrow square carved broad arrow with a short stem set centrally but half below the letters BO MATERIAL – Grey sandstone, possibly sourced locally from quarries in Donegal, with a bush-hammered finish LOCATION – Ned’s Point Fort, County Donegal. This is probably not to be the original location of this stone and it has been moved in recent years DATE ESTIMATE – Likely to date from the original fort construction between 1812-13 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	A carved stone column, square in profile, with a full hip top rising to a single point. The text is carved in a Serif old-style typeface, with the chevron of the broad arrow and vertical line segment being equal in thickness; the line not extending beyond the lowest point of the chevron. The broad arrow is centrally aligned and above the letters BO. TEXT – “BO” for Board of Ordnance MOTIF – A narrow square carved broad arrow with a short stem set centrally but wholly above the letters BO MATERIAL – Grey sandstone, possibly sourced locally from quarries in Donegal, with a horizontal adze finish LOCATION – The stone is ex-situ and has been incorporated into the wall of the Point Bar. Magilligan Point, County Londonderry DATE ESTIMATE – Likely to date from the original Martello Tower construction between 1812-17 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “BO” MOTIF – A narrow square carved broad arrow with a short stem set centrally but wholly below the letters BO MATERIAL – Blue millstone grit LOCATION – Bullpoint Gunpowder Depot, Barne Road, Plymouth DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © bobfitzy62, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	A square cast iron boundary plate, inset at ground level into the brick boundary wall of St. Mary’s Church. There is evidence of filled holes at each corner of the plate, suggesting four mounting bolts or studs. The broad arrow style is of three equal flared lines, or triangles, forming the chevron and vertical line segment. The text style appears in the Serif transitional style, with greater contrast between thick and thin segments in each letter. TEXT – “BO” for Board of Ordnance MOTIF – An embossed broad arrow with equal length flared chevron and stem, set centrally but wholly above the letters BO MATERIAL – Cast iron LOCATION – St. Mary’s Church, Chatham DATE ESTIMATE – Pre-1855. The boundary plate may originate from the construction of the Royal Marines barracks in 1779, or the nearby gun wharf. However, both establishments were under admiralty control. CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	A rectangular limestone block inset into a larger block stone wall at an old barrack entrance. The broad arrow style is of three equal flared lines, or triangles, forming the chevron and vertical line segment. The text style appears in the Serif transitional style, with greater contrast between thick and thin segments in each letter. TEXT – “OB No 1” for Ordnance Board, stone number 1. OB is an unconventional notation, BO being more widely used. Further indication this may be a misinformed reproduction. MOTIF – A square carved broad arrow with flared chevron and stem, set centrally but below the letters BO MATERIAL – Bath stone LOCATION – Gough Infantry Barracks, Armagh City DATE ESTIMATE – The first barracks were constructed at the site in 1773, and have been in continuous use since then. An assessment of the typography and condition suggests this is a modern reproduction. CREDIT – Frontline Ulster

War Department (WD) (Inset)

Image	Details
	TEXT – “No 20 W.D.By.” indicating this was stone number 20 of the War Department Boundary (By.) MOTIF – A v-cut broad arrow with a narrow chevron and stem, set centrally and at the bottom of the stone MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Dover, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Gary Binden, User BINO, Flickr reproduced with permission
	TEXT -“10 WD 1867” MOTIF – A v-cut broad arrow with a narrow chevron and elongated, flared v-cut stem, set centrally between the letters W and D MATERIAL – Granite LOCATION – Dartmouth Castle DATE ESTIMATE – 1867 CREDIT – © Steve Poole, Flickr reproduced with permission
	TEXT – “WD 5” MOTIF – A square-cut broad arrow with chevron and stem, set centrally and uppermost on the stone MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Dock Road, Chatham on the boundary of the Naval Dockyard DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD 5” MOTIF – A v-cut broad arrow with a chevron and elongated an elongated stem, set centrally between the letters W and D MATERIAL – Carved stone LOCATION – Enniskillen Castle, County Fermanagh DATE ESTIMATE – Around 1853 when the barracks became home to the 27th Regiment of Foot CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “To HWM WD” indicating that the War Department boundary extends to the High Water Mark. Often seen at coastal locations where it would be impractical to place stones in the water. MOTIF – A v-cut flared broad arrow with equal length chevron and stem, set centrally between the letters W and D MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Magazine Lane, New Brighton DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © John S Turner and licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 2.0
	TEXT – “WD 5” MOTIF – A v-cut narrow chevron and elongated stem, set centrally between the letters W and D MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Gough Infantry Barracks, Armagh City DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 106” MOTIF – A v-cut narrow flared chevron and elongated stem, set centrally between the letters W and D MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Set into the wall at St. Mary’s Church, Chatham beside an Admiralty fouled anchor marker DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 16” MOTIF – A wide embossed broad arrow with flared chevron and stem, set centrally and between the letters W and D MATERIAL – Cast iron LOCATION – Set into the road at the Dover, St James Street – Castle Hill Road Junction DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 17” MOTIF – A narrow embossed broad arrow with flared chevron and elongated stem, set centrally and between the letters W and D MATERIAL – Cast iron LOCATION – Set into the road at the Dover, St James Street – Castle Hill Road Junction DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD” MOTIF – A square cut broad arrow with flared chevron and stem, set centrally and above the letters WD MATERIAL – Carved in a cast iron railing sill LOCATION – Shooters Hill, London, Grid Reference TQ 4281 7667 DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Gary Binden, User BINO, Flickr reproduced with permission

War Department (WD) (Rectangular column, end carved)

Image	Details
	TEXT – “WD 83” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – At the corner of Kitchener Barracks on Brompton Hill, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 2” MATERIAL – Bath Stone LOCATION – Brean Down Fort, Somerset DATE ESTIMATE – The fort was constructed between 1864-1871 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “No 42 WD” MATERIAL – Concrete LOCATION – Fort Halstead, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD BS No 3” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Tynemouth Castle DATE ESTIMATE – Around 1859 when new works were begun to rearm the fort CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD BS No 18” (BS – Boundary Stone) MATERIAL – Granite LOCATION – Barbican, Plymouth, Devon DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Chris in Plymouth, Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

War Department (WD) (Rectangular column, face carved)

Image	Details
	TEXT – “WD No 8” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Ned’s Point Fort, County Donegal, likely ex-situ DATE ESTIMATE – 1867 when the fort was extended CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Gough Infantry Barracks, Armagh City DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD 155” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Fort Pitt military cemetery, Chatham, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	This tiny sketch comes from an 1889 map of the British camp on Mount Troodos, Cyprus, and could be taken as indicative of the style of stones at the time. TEXT – “WD No 1” LOCATION – Troodos Mountain, Cyprus DATE ESTIMATE – 1889
	TEXT – “WD No 1” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Ex-situ set into the wall of the Point Bar, Magilligan Point, County Londonderry DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD BS No 1091 4ft WEST” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Highfield Close, Gainsborough DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Ian Waites, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “WD 33” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Slough Fort, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – 1867 dating to the construction of the fort CREDIT – Slough Fort Preservation Trust, Instagram 5 April 2023
	TEXT – “WD No 1” MATERIAL – Pink granite LOCATION – Cowley Barracks, Oxford DATE ESTIMATE – 1878 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 16” MATERIAL – Granite LOCATION – Landguard Fort, Felixstowe DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 17” on rear of stone MATERIAL – Granite LOCATION – Landguard Fort, Felixstowe DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD” MATERIAL – Granite LOCATION – Dartmoor DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD 19” MATERIAL – Granite LOCATION – Dartmoor DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “2 WD” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Flat Holm Island DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “No 39 WD” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Fort Halstead, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD A 1389” MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Standinhill Wood, Surrey SU 938536  DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Paul E Smith and licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 2.0
	TEXT – “WD 57” MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a high percentage of beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – Lydd Ranges, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD 5” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Nothe Fort, Weymouth  DATE ESTIMATE – 1860-1872 during construction of the fort CREDIT – © Neil Owen and licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 2.0

War Department (WD) (Non-rectangular column)

Image	Details
	TEXT – “WD” MATERIAL – Cast iron LOCATION – Ha-Ha Road, Greenwich DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Stephen Craven and licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 2.0
	TEXT – “WD” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Hackness Martello Tower, Isle of Flotta, Orkney DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “No 9” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Enniskillen, County Fermanagh DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 11” MATERIAL – Cast iron LOCATION – Tower of London DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Steve Poole, Flickr reproduced with permission
	TEXT – “WD 1” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Cow Gate Steps, Western Heights, Dover DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Fat Wreck, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “WD BS 4” (BS – Boundary Stone) MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – Water catchment area beside Stanger Head Port War Signal Station, Flotta Isle, Orkney DATE ESTIMATE – Between 1948-1964 based on stone design CREDIT – Frontline Ulster

Admiralty (ADM)

Image	Details
	TEXT – “6” MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally and lowermost on one face of the stone column MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – James Street, Devonport DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Tim Jenkinson, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “12” MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally and lowermost on one face of the stone column MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Saltash Passage, Plymouth DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Tim Jenkinson, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally on two perpendicular faces on this cornerstone MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Unknown DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Paul Wells, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “No 14” MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally between the text “No” and “14” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Upnor Castle, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “No 38” MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally and lowermost on one face of the stone column MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “No ?? 1914” MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally on one face of the stone column below the text “No” and above the date “1914” MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and abeach pebble of aggregate LOCATION – Undercliff Road, Kingsdown DATE ESTIMATE – 1914 CREDIT – © Fat Wreck, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “No ?? 1914” MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally on one face of the stone column below the text “No” and above the date “1914” MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a beach pebble of aggregate LOCATION – Undercliff Road, Kingsdown DATE ESTIMATE – 1914 CREDIT – © Fat Wreck, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “No 9 ADMY BDY” (ADMY – Admiralty, BDY – Boundary) MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally and uppermost on one face of the stone MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Devonport DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Chris in Plymouth, Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
	TEXT – “No 4 A Bdy” (A – Admiralty, BDY – Boundary) MOTIF – An upright carved fowled anchor set centrally on one face of the stone column below the text “No 4” and above the text “A Bdy” MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Holton Heath Cordite Factory DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Howard, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “No 17” MOTIF – An upright moulded fowled anchor set centrally and uppermost on one face of the stone column MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Budby, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “No 14 AB” (AB – Admiralty Board) A fouled anchor is marked on the side face of this stone MOTIF – A v-moulded broad arrow on the lower of two lines of text, set centrally and between the letters A and B MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a high percentage of beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – Weymouth, Grid Reference SY 681 781 DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Tim Jenkinson, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research

Air Ministry (AM)

Image	Details
	TEXT – “AM BDY” (AM – Air Ministry, BDY – Boundary) MOTIF – Text only MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Unknown DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Fat Wreck, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “AM No 12” MOTIF – A flared broad arrow with an elongated stem set centrally below the letters AM and above the text No 12 MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Unknown DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © John Cooper, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “AM 4” MOTIF – Text only MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a high percentage of beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – Yately Common, Surrey DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Steve Poole, Flickr reproduced with permission
	TEXT – “AM 22” MOTIF – Not recognisable as a broad arrow, but a broad stemmed vertical arrow set centrally, below the letters “AM” and above the number “22” MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a high percentage of beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – Old Sarum Airfield, Wiltshire DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “AM” MOTIF – A square moulded broad arrow set centrally and lowermost MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a high percentage of beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – RAF Bentley Priory DATE ESTIMATE – Post-1948 when concrete stones would replace carved bath stones. I do not believe bath stone AM stones exist. CREDIT – © Gary Binden, User BINO, Flickr reproduced with permission
	TEXT – “AM 7D” Air Ministry stone number 7D MOTIF – A square moulded broad arrow with elongated stem set centrally below the letters “AM” and above the designation “7D” MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – The western end of RAF Martlesham Heath DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Peter Garwood, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “AM” MOTIF – Text only MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – RAF Barnham, Sussex DATE ESTIMATE – 1955 when the development of the airfield was completed for the nuclear age CREDIT – © Gary Binden, User BINO, Flickr reproduced with permission

Ministry of Defence

Image	Details
	TEXT – “MOD No. 816” MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a high percentage of beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – The Maultway, Camberley DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Steve Poole, Flickr reproduced with permission
	TEXT – “M.O.D BOUNDARY” MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – The corner of Burton Stone Lane and Grosvenor Road, York DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © www.yorkstories.co.uk reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “MOD” MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Fort Halstead, Kent DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “MOD” MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Unknown, England DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Cognito Exploration, Instagram, reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “MOD BSN 1” (BSNo – Boundary Stone Number) MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Beacon Hill, Upnor DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “MOD BOUNDARY” MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – RAF Boxted DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Gary Binden, User BINO, Flickr reproduced with permission
	TEXT – No text MATERIAL – Precast fine mix white concrete to standard fence post specification LOCATION – DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster

Combination boundary and datum stones

There is a special category of stones which serve the purpose of denoting a boundary or the extent of local bye-laws, but have also been used as a survey datum point. This is indicated by the horizontal top on the broad arrow and is more commonly found independently such as those left by the Ordnance Survey, but also by military engineers.

Image	Details
	TEXT – “WD” MOTIF – Broad arrow benchmark MATERIAL – Granite LOCATION – Redoubt Fort, Eastbourne DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “AB 1858” MOTIF – Broad arrow benchmark MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – St. Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff (ex-situ) DATE ESTIMATE – 1858 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 1 TO L.W.M. IN LINE WITH ???” (LWM – Low Water Mark) MOTIF – Broad arrow benchmark MATERIAL – Precast concrete post with a carved and inset slab LOCATION – Magilligan Camp, County Londonderry (ex-situ) DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “4” MOTIF – Broad arrow benchmark MATERIAL – Precast concrete (not reinforced) LOCATION – Ascension Island DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD No 1” MOTIF – Broad arrow benchmark MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Inset into the wall of the Point Bar, Magilligan Point, County Londonderry DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “P” MOTIF – Broad arrow benchmark MATERIAL – Natural limestone LOCATION – Carved into an iron holdfast used to haul guns up the hill at Signal Station Road, Gibraltar DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster

Unspecified military stones

Image	Details
	TEXT – “10” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – St Saviour’s, Jersey DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Tim Jenkinson, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “14” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – St Saviour’s, Jersey DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Tim Jenkinson, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – Nil MATERIAL – Concrete likely cast in situ LOCATION – Georgetown, Ascension Island DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – Nil MATERIAL – Grey sandstone LOCATION – Fort Dunree, County Donegal DATE ESTIMATE – An early-looking stone on the boundary line of the Ordnance Group to the rear of the 1815 fort. It may date from the 1847 expansion of the fort. CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “26” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Flat Holm Island DATE ESTIMATE – Fortifications on the island were completed in 1869, this stone likely dates from this initial occupation CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “1” MOTIF – Broad arrow MATERIAL -Cement LOCATION – Pressed into a cement tablet on a wall inside Princess Royal’s Battery, Gibraltar DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “PC 45” possibly standing for Public Common MATERIAL – Precast concrete made from cement and a high percentage of beach pebble aggregate LOCATION – Hollesley Common, Suffolk DATE ESTIMATE – Second World War or post-war CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “MSD 1914” (MSD – Military Supply Depot) MATERIAL – Concrete LOCATION – Devonport Lines, Plymouth, Grid Reference SX 4595 5417 DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – © Boundary Mark, Flickr reproduced under the fair dealing clause for non-commercial research
	TEXT – “WD TELE” (TELE – Telegraph) indicating the line of a War Department telegraph cable MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – St. Margret’s Hope, Orkney DATE ESTIMATE – 1939-1945 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “WD SIGNALS” MOTIF – None MATERIAL – Precast concrete LOCATION – Near the Queen’s Balcony, Gibraltar DATE ESTIMATE -1939 – 1945 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “CG 2” (CG – Camping Ground) MATERIAL – Poor quality concrete with a high percentage aggregate, reinforced with flat steel bar internally LOCATION – Troodos Mountain, Cyprus DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “JOINT BOX” with the moulded letters infilled with lead MATERIAL – Concrete made from cement and beach gravel LOCATION – RAF Bawdsey Chain Home Station, Suffolk DATE ESTIMATE – Circa. 1940 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “MV CABLE” (MV – Medium Voltage) MATERIAL – Concrete made from cement and fine beach gravel. Internal reinforcing bars are corroding and showing through the top surface LOCATION – RAF Bawdsey Chain Home Station, Suffolk DATE ESTIMATE – Circa. 1940 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “No 2 SMM” MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Felixstowe, Suffolk DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	TEXT – “ELCABLES” (ELCABLES – Electric Cables). The second line of text is unreadable MATERIAL – Limestone LOCATION – Felixstowe, Suffolk DATE ESTIMATE – CREDIT – Frontline Ulster

Non-military stones

Image	Details
	This cast iron pillar is a GPO (General Post Office) cable marker used to mark joins along main trunk cable routes. Interestingly many of the distance plates that would have sat above the broad arrow and below the “ft in” were removed during the Second World War on security grounds; it was thought the removal of the distance to the joint would inhibit sabotage by enemy agents. In this instance, the broad arrow indicates Crown property and is neither related to the War Department nor Ordnance Survey. TEXT – “ER ft in” MOTIF – Broad arrow MATERIAL – Cast iron LOCATION – Landsdowne Road, Cheltenham DATE ESTIMATE – Edward VII 1901 – 19102More information on these posts can be found on this wonderful site – https://gpo-markers.derektp.co.uk/markers CREDIT – Frontline Ulster
	Officially designated the Post, Marker, No. 2, this GPO marker was introduced in 1914 and was laid until the change to the PO in 1972. The official document states “Buried plant situated along country roads should be marked by using a Post, Marking No. 2.  The post should be positioned, where possible, with its long face parallel to the line of the track, so that the numerals face the track along a line at right angles to it.”3More information on these posts can be found here – https://gpo-markers.derektp.co.uk/markers In this instance, the broad arrow indicates Crown property and is neither related to the War Department nor Ordnance Survey. TEXT – “GPO” MOTIF – Broad arrow MATERIAL – Reinforced concrete LOCATION – Bath Road, Cheltenham DATE ESTIMATE – Installed between 1914 – 1972 CREDIT – Frontline Ulster

• 1
  Calculated using the National Archives currency converter rounded up or down to the nearest year – https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter/
• 2
  More information on these posts can be found on this wonderful site – https://gpo-markers.derektp.co.uk/markers
• 3
  More information on these posts can be found here – https://gpo-markers.derektp.co.uk/markers