Red Post
In 1896 the parish of Poyntington was transferred from Somerset to Dorset. This was a shame for Somerset so I will pretend it never happened and by doing so it must still in Somerset. I say this because on my recent visit to Corton Denham, which is in Somerset, I forgot to photograph a local landmark – a finger post that is not black on white but white on red.
Not surprisingly these are known as Red Posts.
Storm Freya
Storm Freya battered Britain with 80mph winds and travel disruption. So when I returned to visit the red post a few days ago there was a pretty dramatic sky.
Red Posts
There are many theories for why this post in Somerset, and three others in Dorset, are red.
The theories include:
- They mark the route convicts were taken along before being transported to Australia.
- They were places where people were hanged. Not sure about this as other sites such as Jack White’s gibbet near Castle Cary that are not marked with a red post.
- The place where suicide victims were buried.
- It was just Dorset county policy for a short time. This cannot be true as this one is in Somerset and has pointy fingers rather than the rounded Dorset ones.
- They are connected to the toll system as toll posts.
And Finally…
Dorset may have its red posts but the post just down the road in Somerset is a classic. Pointy fingers, distances accurate to one quarter of a mile, pointy SCC finial, grey and white sturdy post, lots of cycle way stickers and lots of daffodils.
Red Post Posts: