Godshill, Bow Bridge milestone
North of Godshill, on the road to Rookley on the Isle of Wight, the road passes over the River Yar, and on the bridge is a milestone dated 1769.
Over the years the build up of the road surface has hidden the lower part, what is still visible reads:
ERECTED
IN THE YEAR
1769
TO NEWPORT QUAY
Apparently the hidden inscription goes on to give the miles to Newport Harbour in the north, and the miles to Appuldurcombe in the south. Appuldurcombe is not a village but a house/park which was the seat of the Worsley's. Sir Richard Worsley had succeeded to the title in 1768, which may suggest the author of the milestone.
The Merston to Ventnor railway used to pass over the road on an embankment immediately on the Godshill side of the bridge, there are no signs of the bridge or embankment at this point now, but at other points along the route may be seen bridges and parts of the embankment.
