The intention with this website is to locate at least 1,001 benchmark sites, or die in the attempt (no flowers please, house private). Photos of any benchmark sites found will be posted at intervals over the coming days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries ... Anyone who wishes to contribute can send photos and descriptions of any benchmarks they find and would like to have included here, to mfbourke@gmail.com See post Number 1 for a fuller description.

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Friday, November 20, 2015

NUMBER 1,016

BENCHMARKS continued

This second one from Dunshaughlin is on Saint Sechnall's Church.

Below: The 'mark on Saint Sechnall's Church in Dunshaughlin in County Meath.
 
 Above: A view looking west at Saint Sechnall's Church with the 'mark at bottom right on the wall of the church.

NUMBER 1,015

BENCHMARKS continued

Filled with sorrow and remorse, M.C. and Benchmarker quietly turned away from Ballivor and sped towards Dunshaughlin were richer pickings awaited. First up is this one on Saint Secundinus' Church on the northside of the town.
 
Below: The 'mark on Saint Secundinus' Church in Dunshaughlin in County Meath.
 
Above: A view looking east of Saint Secundinus' Church. The 'mark is at bottom left on the stone surround of the entrance door. At right is what remains of a far earlier church here.

NUMBER 1,014

BENCHMARKS continued

Of all the many, many references to the many, many, many features of Ballivor that can be found in song and in story, in poems, memoirs, documentaries, plays, novels, feature films, news reels, etc, etc, etc, how disappointing it is then to consider that its finest feature - the wonderful, wonderful benchmark on the fine old stone-built Earls Bridge on the Stonyford River - has been completely ignored. It falls therefore to M.C. and Benchmarker to attempt, more in sorrow than in anger, with this small heart-felt tribute here on this website, to correct this great injustice.
 
Below: The 'mark on Earls Bridge at Ballivor in County Meath.
 
Above: On Earls Bridge looking north with the 'mark on the left at bottom left of the stone plaque which, for all anyone is able to tell, perhaps gives the date of the erection of the bridge, and by who it was paid for and carried out; but its not possible to tell because the plaque, like the 'mark, is so unappreciated that it has been allowed to become smothered with lichens. How disappointing!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

NUMBER 1,013

BENCHMARKS continued

Benchmarker chanced upon this one, on the wall of the Phoenix Park, while frustratingly pacing the road when waiting for a bus near the Islandbridge Gate on Conyngham Road in Dublin City. The 25” map does not record it; however just across the road there is one shown on a terrace that is now long gone.
 
Below: A 'mark on Conyngham Road at Islandbridge.
 
Above: On Conyngham Road looking west past the Islandbridge Gate and with the 'mark at bottom right.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

NUMBER 1,012

BENCHMARKS continued

Michael Byrne's magnificent benchmark hunt in Edinburgh concluded with this final one, located on the Royal Mile at it's junction with Saint Mary's Street, adorning a pub called The World's End. With well over 100 'marks bagged on this particular hunt, it's an achievement that is unlikely to ever be bettered. What must be appreciated is that Michael could have gone on and on only the weather conspired to make him call a halt. Michael included this note from his hunting log “This is where I simply gave up - beaten into submission by the torrential rain, which is very evident in the location photo. On my last day in Edinburgh, I was anxious to record the many benchmarks on the famous Royal Mile - the road running down from the Castle to Holyrood Palace. However, the elements had other plans, and whatever about being soaked through, I was more worried about my camera, tablet, phone and notebook getting any wetter that they already were. This area was known as the world's end, as the city walls once finished here - as I did.”

Below: The 'mark on the World's End on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
 
Above: On the Royal Mile looking west with the 'mark on the left.

NUMBER 1,011

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is on on Saint Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile.

Below: A 'mark on Saint Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
 
 Above: Looking south at the cathedral with the 'mark at bottom right.
 

NUMBER 1,010

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is on Old Assembly Close on the Royal Mile.

Below: A 'mark on Old Assembly Close on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
 
 Above: On the Royal Mile and looking south with the 'mark at the base of the left hand side of the entry arch to the Close.
 

NUMBER 1,009

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is a bolt type and is on Tron Church on the Royal Mile.

Below: A 'mark on Tron Church on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
 
 Above: On the Royal Mile and looking west and with the 'mark immediately below the "A" in JAMES. A fine atmospheric shot.

NUMBER 1,008

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is on the Royal Mile near Paisley Close.

Below: A 'mark on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
 
 Above: On the Royal Mile and looking west and with the 'mark on the right.

NUMBER 1,007

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is on Bedford Terrace.

Below: A 'mark on Bedford Terrace in Edinburgh.
 
 Above: On Bedford Terrace and looking north east and with the 'mark on the right behind the pole.

NUMBER 1,006

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is a rivet type and is on the curved railing plinth outside 10 Belford Road (an old lodge).

Below: A 'mark on Bedford Road in Edinburgh.
 
Above: On Bedford Road and looking north and with the 'mark - somewhat out of focus - at left.

NUMBER 1,005

BENCHMARKS continued



This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is on the main building of New Craig House.


Below: A 'mark on New Craig House in Edinburgh.
 
 Above: New Craig House looking west with the 'mark (chalked) at bottom right.

NUMBER 1,004

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is on Bedford Road.

Below: A 'mark on Bedford Road in Edinburgh.
 
 Above: Looking north west on Bedford Road, with the 'mark on the right.

NUMBER 1,003

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh is on a perimeter wall of East Craig Villa, with the Villa itself visible in the background of the location photo.

Below: A 'mark on the perimeter wall of East Craig Villa.
 
Above: Looking north west with the 'mark at bottom right.
 

NUMBER 1,002

BENCHMARKS continued

This one from Michael Byrne from Edinburgh - of unknown height - was spotted on East Craig Villa within the New Craig House complex. 

Below: A 'mark on East Craig Villa in Edinburgh.
 
Above: Looking north west with the 'mark is on the front facing bottom corner stone seen at left in the photo. Michael Byrne adds “Developers have fenced off all buildings on the site, so up close and personal photos are not an option. Had to resort to zoom through the fence”.
 

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

NUMBER 1,001

BENCHMARKS continued

Any time benchmark-hunters gather together to chew the fat, to talk about the ones they got, and the ones that got away, sooner or later the conversation will get around to the question of who was the very first benchmark-hunter, the original of our species, the progenitor of us all. Many - fired with more enthusiasm than is probably wise - will plump for Benchmarker himself; while others will claim that there was a guy up North who was involved a good wee bit earlier. Yet others will say it all kicked off in the United States of America. For a long, long time it was impossible to peacefully reconcile these conflicting opinions and it lead, on some occasions, to a point where it seemed that the movement would split or even disintegrate entirely.
Now at last the differing factions can put away their fanatical arguments, their unconscious biases, their febrile passions for someone or other, because in recent times incontrovertible documentary evidence has been unearthed which the anthropologists and historians all agree narrows down the date on which the very first benchmark-hunter explored and recorded the mapped world. And from where he (or possibly even she) most probably originated. The evidence is contained in the earliest known photograph ever of a benchmark, which was discovered recently by M.C. when, in an attempt to link his family tree all the way back to King Solomon, he happened upon it on the Man on Bridge website where it had been posted at some stage by a person unknown.
An examination by The Institute for Advanced Benchmark Hunting, at its laboratory in Ballivor, of the couture of the couple in the picture has confirmed that it dates all the way back to the 1940/50s.
And as the photographer featured on the Man on Bridge site - Arthur Fields - is not known to have ever been active outside the centre of Dublin City; and as the 'mark in the photo has been proven to be the one on Saint Patrick's Bridge in Cork City, it is reasonable to conclude that the photo was not taken by Mister Fields, but most likely by some other photographer who was based in that southern city. For now at least, the identity of that particular benchmark-hunter (the daddy, or maybe mammy, of us all) is not known. But what is known is that the evidence revealed by the photo rules out of contention for the title of who was the first benchmark-hunter, all those other Johnny-come-latelys that have been the subject of all those fractious disputes that have plagued our noble movement up to now. And that is most welcome indeed.
(P.S. Believe it or believe it not, this is perhaps the first and only 'mark from Cork City or County that has been posted yet on this site.)

In tribute to the first ever benchmark-hunter, whose identity remains unknown, this site asks all currently active hunters - at a time that is convenient for them - to take a photographic record of this 'mark (on Saint Patrick's Bridge in Cork City) while striving to get an image that reflects the composition of the original photo i.e. by including two people in the photograph who are framing the 'mark. All such photo submissions, however late they are received, will be posted here on this post, NUMBER 1,001.

Below: The first ever photographic record of a benchmark.

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

NUMBER 1,000

BENCHMARKS continued

In recent days internet and social media chatter has reached a crescendo and the world has held its breath as speculation mounts as to who will receive the honour of contributing the 1,000th 'mark. As well as fielding a unceasing barrage of questions from the International News Agencies and the Provincial Press, the members of the Benchmark Hunters' Licensing and Awards Committee, who decide these honours, have been subjected to a constant bombardment of unsolicited requests recommending one individual or another; and often accompanied by the offer of the sort of inducement that is not discussed in civilized circles. But through it all the members have been unwavering in their commitment to ensure that the identity of the person chosen remains under wraps until officially announced, and that the process of selection will withstand the scrutiny of any Committee of Inquiry.
However just before the envelope is opened and the world erupts with the sounds of cheers and the popping of champagne corks, it is necessary to forewarn that the announcement comes with something of a good news/bad news qualification; what could be described as an element of the bitter sweetness with which every veteran benchmark hunter is all too familiar.
The bad news then is that a few - maybe as many as 20 to 30 - of the earliest 'marks are not true benchmarks. Some of those from Leinster Road in Dublin City are particularly suspect.
However the good news is that the site will stay in business and continue posting - for how long has not been decided - until the smallest smidgen of doubt is well and truly eliminated that 1,000 'marks are definitely in the bag.
And so to the sound of fanfares, fireworks, church bells ringing and the angels singing, it is congratulations and best wishes to Michael Byrne who almost alone in recent times has powered this website to what it is today. Hip! Hip! …... etc, etc, ...... Hooray!

Below: The 1,000th 'mark (or is it?) is on the outside stone pillar of the steps leading up to South Craig Villa in Edinburgh in Scotland.
 
Above: Looking east with the 'mark at lower right, on the edge of the photo, a little below the "Heras" sign.
 

Monday, November 9, 2015

NUMBER 999

BENCHMARKS continued



An Encounter with the Ghost's Hand at Clarinbridge.



A week or two back, M.C. and Benchmarker saddled up and rode the Iron Horse from their Dublin homestead, out across the Kildare prairie, through the Westmeath Territory and over the majestic Shannon and on through the Western Badlands to the frontier town of Galway, where a coach sped them on to the Clarinbridge settlement and a rendezvous with compadre John Quinn.

OK! OK! Enough of the cowpoke talk! It's just that Benchmarker got into that mood when recalling a passage or two from the radio documentary 'Goodnight Balivor, I'll Sleep in Trim' - John Quinn's memoir of his childhood in the1940/50s in the village of Balivor in County Meath. A few years after the radio programme John produced a written version of his memoir; and in that book there is a section on the estate of Elm Grove. And within that section there is a paragraph that refers to a particular benchmark on the wall of the estate. Here below is the paragraph: - 


On first reading that two word, second-last sentence - “How disappointing” - the effect on M.C. and Benchmarker felt like a kick to the solar plexus by a Montana mountain mule. The very notion that anyone, especially John Quinn, could be so curtly dismissive of the wonders and joys of benchmarks has been difficult to deal with. However while this did not mar the air of geniality that prevailed during the recent appointment at Clarinbridge, it has not been forgotten and it can be taken that John Quinn will not be receiving any time soon an invitation to join the Most Honourable, Wise and Worshipful Company of Benchmark Hunters and Allied Trades.



Below: The ghost hand on the bridge at ClarinBridge in Galway County.
 
 Above: On the bridge at Clarinbridge with the ghost hand at bottom left, while in the distance John Quinn and M.C. examine a plaque on the bridge wall. In the far distance is Paddy Burke's saloon which served up some mighty fine chow, plumb better'an beans 'n' coffee.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

NUMBER 998

BENCHMARKS continued

This one in Edinburgh, Scotland, from Michael Byrne is on Spittal Street opposite Grindlay Street.

Below: Another 'mark on Spittal Street, Edinburgh.
 
 Above: On Spittal Street looking north east and with 'mark on the right.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

NUMBER 997

BENCHMARKS continued

This one in Edinburgh, Scotland, from Michael Byrne is on Lonsdale Terrace at its junction with Bougham Place.

Below: A 'mark on Lonsdale Terrace, Edinburgh.
 
 Above: On Lonsdale Terrace and looking east and with the 'mark on the left.

NUMBER 996

BENCHMARKS continued

This one in Edinburgh, Scotland, from Michael Byrne is on Saint Michael's Church in Bougham Place.

Below: A 'mark on Saint Michael's Church in Bougham Place, Edinburgh.
 
Above: At the church and looking north and with the 'mark at bottom right.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

NUMBER 995

BENCHMARKS continued

This one in Edinburgh, Scotland, from Michael Byrne is on Bruntsfield Terrace.

Below: A 'mark on on Bruntsfield Terrace , Edinburgh.
 
Above: On Bruntsfield Terrace looking north west and with the 'mark on the left.

NUMBER 994

BENCHMARKS continued

This one in Edinburgh, Scotland, from Michael Byrne is on Warrender Park Crescent at its junction with Whitehouse Loan.

Below: A 'mark on Warrender Park Crescent, Edinburgh.
 
Above: On Warrender Park Crescent looking east and with the 'mark at lower right behind one of Edinburgh's many rock salt storage bins, far too heavy to move!

Friday, October 16, 2015

NUMBER 993

BENCHMARKS continued

This one in Edinburgh, Scotland, from Michael Byrne is on a gate pillar on Greenhills Gardens.

Below: Another 'mark on Greenhills Gardens, Edinburgh.
 
Above: On Greenhills Gardens looking south and with the 'mark on the right.

NUMBER 992

BENCHMARKS continued

This one in Edinburgh, Scotland, from Michael Byrne is on Greenhills Gardens, at the north border of No 10.

Below: A 'mark on Greenhills Gardens, Edinburgh.
 
Above: On Greenhills Gardens looking south and with the 'mark on the left.

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