Benchmarks & Trigpoints

Feering & Kelvedon Local History Museum and the Heritage Society have become aware that across our two villages are ‘Benchmarks’ and ‘Trigpoints’. They are markings usually on the side of buildings and indicate the height above sea level. They were historically put there on behalf of Ordnance Survey and are now broadly obsolete due to technology taking over. Over 500,000 exist across the British Isles.

There are two websites which identify their exact locations and before they are lost (to general wear and tear or maybe building alterations) we would like to capture pictures of them all and hold the records in the museum. The picture here shows a benchmark located at Kelvedon & Feering Health Centre on the front of the building. We are therefore seeking volunteers to go around the two villages and record that they still exist and ideally take a photo of them.

In many cases it will be easy to walk and spot them from the pavement others may involve a car as more on the outskirts or harder to spot as hidden. The Society is co-ordinating the project to minimise duplication of effort. If you would like to help in someway even just to help spot a few along your own road or maybe along a particular road then please contact the Society for more information. Of course we would also love to hear from you if you have one on your own property.