Communities in Dorset unite to restore old fingerposts, preserving local heritage. Funding boosts the unique county beauty.
Fingerposts are common in Dorset and are part of the old road system. Sadly, only 717 of these remain today, as many vanished in World War II and weren’t replaced after the war ended.
Dorset Council doesn’t fix them anymore, so Dorset National Landscape and Dorset CPRE support local people who want to save them. They want to bring these signs back to life. Town councils, groups, and people are restoring many.
Dorset CPRE provides up to £200 per fingerpost, which helps cover the costs of fixing them. A red post at Horsey Knapp has been restored, and a black and white post in Evershot’s center is also fixed.
Roger Bond coordinates the restoration and repairs lettering on oak. Coles Castings makes letterings; a farmer offered a safer location, and highways officials approved it. Nigel Clarke helped with the red post, fitting the lettering and the bracket.
Bond said the red post looks good now and is much safer than before. He thanked Dorset National Landscape and Dorset CPRE.
Bond mentioned Evershot has few cast-iron fingerposts left, but they restored one in the town’s center; a missing finger was found, and they fitted a new finger pointing to Holywell.
Neil Matthews said the signs help walkers and drivers, showing directions and distances. He is glad Dorset CPRE supports this work, which boosts Dorset’s unique beauty.