Bideford Town Council are delighted to announce the completion of the restoration of Gammaton Cross Finger Post. Who would have known that this piece of cast iron held so much significance!
This finger post is a rare and important example of 1880’s street furniture which would have been installed under the direction of legislation – to provide a guide at a crossroads, before the advent of cars. It is of intrinsic interest and is a National Heritage Grade II Listed Building.
But our story doesn’t finish there! In the National Heritage listing it notes that there is a word missing from one of the fingers – Newton – from the Newton Tracey finger. When taking down the scaffolding after the renovation works, the hedges and shrubbery were cut back – and there was the missing “Newton”, in one piece but needing some care. This will be returned to its original position in the coming weeks.
Needless to say, the Gammaton Cross Finger Post is looking rather grand and very much on show.
Bideford Town Council thanks Devon County Councillor Mrs Linda Hellyer for her generous support in this project and for funding from her Devon County Council Locality Budget.
