Milestone is back in its rightful place

AN ANCIENT monument that was removed from Les Banques four years ago has been reinstated. The milestone had sat in front of a row of terraced houses that were demolished to make way for Admiral Park.

It is one of 26 which date from the early 19th century.

David Kreckeler, who has carried out extensive research into the history of the stones, had been watching the situation with interest.

'I noticed the building work going on and when I came down one day, the wall had been knocked down and the milestone was standing in a hole on its own,' he said.

A visit to the then Island Development Committee and a look at the plans for the site confirmed that the stone would have to be returned.

Mr Kreckeler's interest in milestones developed from his days as an athlete when he used them to gauge his running times.

He organised the first milestone race in 1970 from one at Les Adams to another at Morley Corner, St Martin's. His time of 31 min. 26 sec. for the six miles is still a local record.

From 1980, he campaigned for the island's milestones to be listed as ancient monuments and this was finally done ' but to 23 of them only ' in 1994.

ComProp development co-ordinator Norman Hare had responsibility for looking after the milestone from Les Banques while building work went ahead.

'When we cleared the site, it was agreed with the IDC that, as it was a listed ancient monument, we would take the stone into our care,' he said.

'The arrangement was that it would not go back until such time as it could go in a safe, secure position that would mirror that of its original siting.'

In the interim, the stone spent time in a lock-up garage to which only Mr Hare had a key and a store at the Guernsey Gas offices.

St Peter Port senior constable Richard Barneby said that when he saw the demolition of Milestone Terrace going ahead, he had wondered what would happen to the stone.

He called Mr Hare, who is a friend, who reassured him that it would be stored and looked after before being reinstated.

Mr Barneby said he was grateful to Mr Hare and ComProp for appreciating that it was part of island history.

'Mr Kreckeler has provided us with a lot of additional information about a lot of other milestones within the parish which has been very useful,' he said.