Turnpike trusts were obliged by law to measure the roads and erect markers at one statute mile, giving the distance to the towns at the end of the road.

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See also:

• Victoria County History: Oxford roads
• Turnpike roads of Oxford
• The Milestone Society
• Photograph of what Henry Taunt calls “the Roman milestone” (or “the Giant's Loaf”) on Shotover

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The toll gates to the east of the city of Oxford

The busiest toll gates were to the east of the city on the three roads leading to London. The 1789 map on the right shows two gates in front of St Clement's Church, one barring the way to St Clement's and the “Road to London through Uxbridge”, and the other barring the way to the present Cowley Road (described as “Old London Road”) and the Iffley Road (described as “New London Road through Henley”. A third gate the other side of the church prevents access between the road to St Clement's and the other two roads.

The postcard below (published in c.1905 and made from a painting in the possion of Harry Paintin) shows the old St Clement's Church with the toll house in front. The man on horseback appears to be paying a toll to take the road to London: the next toll gate is not far away at the central Headington crossroads

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The Oxford Canal

The Oxford Canal also had canal milestones, as most cargoes were charged for by the mile. Unfortunately canal milestones that survive are missing their cast-iron mileage plates, but the indents for the four leaded dowels with which the plates were fixed can be seen. The following ones are on the canal towpath in and just to the north of Oxford.

Two miles from Oxford canal basin: Just north of Elizabeth Jennings Way bridge

Three miles from Oxford canal basin: just beyond the ring-road and canal bridge 233

Four miles from Oxford canal basin

The canal comes to an end at Hawkesbury in Warwickshire, about 82 miles from the Oxford canal basin.