Signposts

[eric]

Many many years ago, when I was nobbut a lad, My grandfather pointed out a signpost one day, asking if I knew why it was so much higher than the car. Being about 6 years old, I didn't (nor was I particularly bothered at that time either!) fortunately, the answer stuck in my mind for some reason, which was that they were designed for use by horse riders and coaches. Can anyone confirm this? and, does anyone know if any of the tall signs still exist?

[danmoorhouse]

I can't think of any in and around Keighley but there are some in Apperley Bridge along with an 'equestrian crossing' designed for horses to safely cross Harrogate Road. I'd assume that there would be some on local Bridleways for horses and there are certainly raised signs on main roads that are there for taller vehicles rather than cars (some on route to Halifax).

[alumpot]

there are also some tall signs up by what used to be the five flags hotel

[eric]

I've seen the raised "crossing lights" which are recent, it's the old "tall"signposts with arms that I'm curious about.

[danmoorhouse]

I've asked a friend who works for the council's road maintenance department to find out if there are any of these signs in the area. If there are any around here, I'd hope that they'd know!

[vale]

How high is high and how old is old?

Do mean motorised coaches or horse drawn?

To be high enough to clear a horse drawn coach the sign would need to be at least 20 foot high, the average coach being 14 foot to the top rail, on top were the cheaper seats, and it was not unusual for the coach to be so full that there was only standing room.

Brief over view of road signs:

Romans had installed mile stones beside their roads indicating the distance to the next settlement.

Turnpike Act of 1773 and these were required to have both milestones and guidepost signs on them the milestones were originally made of stone but later changed to of cast iron, painted white often with the markings picked out in black.

1889 the County Councils were given responsibility for road maintenance. and erected cast iron sign posts, usually painted black and white, replacing the haphazard system of wooden 'guide posts' erected following the 1697 statute.

1921 the government issued guidelines on the design of these signs posts. The arms of the post were to be painted white and the lettering was to be three inches high in black. circular plate or ring on the top carrying the council's name. signposts are often not very tall, sometimes no more than six feet tall, those mounted on pavements were taller, the actual arms being something over six feet high to allow people to pass safely underneath. Usually Pavement mounted signs being 7 ft high.

1919 the new 'Roads Board' set about classifying the roads, dividing them into three types based on the weight of traffic they would be expected to carry. 'A' 'B' and 'C' .

Some areas at the time of the turnpike did use wooden signs, and I do not know if it is still there, but there did used to be an old wooden post on the old road to Hebden Bridge, it was high in case of snow drifts, and the wooden posts marking the way, the tops painted black so they would show in the snow.