BENCHMARKS continued
Michael
Byrne relates a good example of how a benchmark can be literally
under our noses and we just don't see it. Except it wasn't him who
first spotted this one. Here's his story. “This Benchmark left me
gobsmacked! It's located at Rock Hill, or Main Street Blackrock
Village. I have driven past this spot on literally hundreds of
occasions, and walked past it dozens of times. Never once did I
notice this fine granite pillar standing in the pathway, which is
effectively the back of Blackrock Shopping Centre. How have I never
seen this before?
On checking through the
25" Historical map for potential Benchmark sites, I completely
discounted this location as I thought that the amount of demolition
involved in preparation for the building of the new centre would
certainly have obliterated any possible Benchmark site.
Out strolling today, my
missus casually said "Oooo - look at that old stone pillar - I
wonder what that's for, and look, it's got a Benchmark on it!"
Full credit to her - she found it. I stood looking at it in
disbelief, as if it had just dropped out of the sky - how could I
possibly have never seen this before?
It's a granite pillar
standing about 4ft high, with the top angled from two sides to form a
point. The only mark on it is the Benchmark, so it's not a Mile
Marker - I'll have to do some checking to find out it's original
purpose.”
Michael, I suspect it
is the actual 'mark that was originally at that location and was
retained there when the buildings were demolished for the shopping
centre, perhaps as a condition of the planning permission. It appears
the footpath there now is a good bit wider than is shown in the 25”
maps, and the position of the 'mark would appear to correspond with
the inside line of the footpath in the olden days.
Below: A 'mark on Rock Hill in Blackrock in County
Dublin.
Above: Looking south east towards Main Street, Blackrock
with the 'mark on the base of the pillar at right.
