❤️ Help Me Bring a Lost Piece of Somerset & Dorset History Back to Life

117 years ago, these cast-iron boundary posts marked the line between Somerset and Dorset. Today, almost all of them have disappeared.

I want to change that.

Back in 1909, the County Councils of Somerset and Dorset erected numerous cast-iron boundary posts along the county boundary. They were built to last — but sadly, very few have survived the passing of time.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to rescue one.

It had been tucked away behind a tree at a property in Kittwhistle, just a few yards from where it originally stood beside the B3165. When the owner passed away, it came into my possession.

Unfortunately, it had been badly damaged. The top had been cut off and lost, leaving me wondering how on earth I could ever restore it.

So I put it at the top of my drive.

It didn't take long before people started asking questions. Local residents knew what it was; newcomers were understandably rather baffled!

Then, one morning, something rather special happened.

A local man turned up carrying another old boundary marker. It was incredibly rust-pitted, but — remarkably — complete. It had originally stood outside his house at Laymore, marking what must have been one of the most confusing Somerset/Dorset boundaries around!

Then came 1963.

County boundaries were changed, and the fields behind my little house suddenly became part of Dorset. Overnight, these old boundary markers became obsolete. Many were neglected, removed, damaged or simply forgotten.

But I haven't forgotten them.

My mission

I now want to have the surviving complete boundary post professionally reproduced, so that these historic markers can be returned to the old Somerset/Dorset boundary where they once stood.

I already know of at least three original locations, including the river bridge at the bottom of the lane where I grew up in Winsham, Somerset.

Sadly, that particular marker met a rather unfortunate end. Apparently, a lorry driver knocked it into pieces in the 1960s and the remains were thrown into the river.

I'd love to put one back there.

Not a modern sign pretending to be old.

A faithful reproduction of the original — standing once again where generations of people would have passed it.

Can you help?

Each reproduction costs approximately:

£450 + VAT to cast

£50 approximately to prepare and paint

So I'm asking for your help to raise the money needed to bring these forgotten pieces of our local history back to life.

If you can donate anything at all, no matter how small, I would be incredibly grateful.

And if you can't donate, "PLEASE SHARE THIS POST" with your friends, family and anyone who loves Dorset, Somerset, local history or our countryside.

Every share could help reach someone who would love to see these old boundary markers returned to the landscape.

I spend a lot of my time rescuing and restoring our roadside heritage signs, and this project is particularly close to my heart.

Let's not allow another piece of our local history to disappear.

❤️ Please donate if you can.

Please share if you can't.

️ And let's bring a little piece of Somerset & Dorset's history back home.

Many thanks for your support.

Tim Beer