Boundary marker. An 18th century cast iron boundary marker - 1775

Sold for £300

Boundary marker. An 18th century cast iron Parish boundary marker, the rectangular plaque cast in relief ST E B 1775, with fixing hole to each corner, 26 x 21cm

(Qty: 1)

Provenance: Collection of Jack Webb (1923-2019), London.

A boundary marker is a robust marker that identifies the start of a land boundary or the change in a boundary. A system of parishes, units of ecclesiastical administration and pastoral care, evolved during the middle Anglo-Saxon period and by the end of the 12th century existed in most parts of the country. England had some 8,500 parishes from the Middle Ages, until the late 19th century. The parish was the basic territorial unit in the organisation of the country and the responsibility for local administration was gradually extended by Parliament to include, for instance, the raising of local rates and taxes. It was important for people to know what parish they lived in and where the boundaries were. Parish boundaries were historically marked by stones, and later by cast iron, sheet metal or lead plaques which were displayed at public locations, commonly on the walls of buildings, but also on boundary walls, where they were visible to every passer-by.

This Parish boundary marker is believed to be that of the St Edmund and Bartholomew.