title
© John Talbot. No images may be copied, downloaded or reproduced without prior written permission.
close

Explanation of Types

Type Description Examples
Flush Bracket These are rectangular metal plates affixed to triangulation pillars, walls, buildings etc. If they are not affixed to a triangulation pillar they are often referred to as Non-Pillar Flush Brackets (NPFB). They are about 6" x 3" in size and the location of most of them is known through Ordnance Survey (OS) records. Each Flush Bracket (FB) has a unique serial number which makes them highly 'collectable' and there are several numbering types.  
  One to four figure number
The earliest FBs you can find and date from 1912-1921. Numbered from 1-3000. A few can be found on triangulation pillars.		 5
  S-prefix
Introduced in the 1920s these are found on pillars and as NPFBs. There are two sub-types, S below the number and S left of the number.		 S0950
S8628
  G-prefix
First appeared in 1936. Unlike S-series brackets numbers below 1000 do not have leading zeroes. Used extensively in Scotland and never found on triangulation pillars.		 G3646
  L-prefix
Just sixteen brackets used in London in the early 1930s.		  
  Five figure number
These are effectively S-series brackets above S9999 where they ran out of room for the S (S-below was discontinued as the S interfered with the measuring equipment).		 11328
Projecting Bracket An early type of metal bracket used for a short time before the introduction of flush brackets. They are all the same and have no unique attributes. Reading, Greyfriar's Church
OSBM Bolt Used alongside the G-series of flush brackets these are placed where there wasn't a convenient building or wall to provide a vertical surface on which to affix a flush bracket. They are domed metal bolts about 1" (50-60mm) in diameter fixed to horizontal surfaces engraved with OSBM and the benchmark symbol. Caban Coch Dam
Cut Bench Mark By far the most common type. Used and made from the 1800s to around 20 years ago. You won't have to walk (or drive) very far in any village, town or city in Britain before you spot one of these. Chiseled into stone, brick or wood on all sorts of vertical structures. A familiar horizontal levelling line with a three line arrow pointing towards it (usually upwards). Each one is unique depending on the mason who cut it, some are plain, some decorated. Some roughly cut, some exquisitely cut with high accuracy. Some small, some huge. Wallingford, 60 High Street
Cut Bench Mark with Bolt Old and rare these have a metal bolt screwed either alongside the horizontal cut of a cut bench mark or at the point of the cut arrowhead. Usually has what appears as a screwhead horizontal in the head of the bolt. These are highly prized by benchmarkers. Dorchester Abbey
Rivet Usually found on horizontal surfaces these are cut marks with a small metal domed brass rivet at the apex of the cut arrowhead marks. Swyncombe, Icknield Field
Pivot Fairly rare these are used on horizontal surfaces such as soft sandstone, where the insertion of a rivet would break away the stone. They consist of a small hole or depression cut to take a pivot, a steel ball bearing of 5/8" diameter (16mm). In use, the pivot is placed in the depression and the levelling staff held on top of the pivot. Sutton Bridge
Fundamental Bench Mark These are the key to the whole levelling of the UK. Granite blocks with large domed metal caps. Just like an iceberg this is just the tip of a fairly extensive underground structure. Highly accurate height stations still used today as the baseline to levelling. Conwy
Triangulation Pillar Familiar to anyone who walks in the British countryside, these can often (but not always) be found at hilltops. Most have a flush bracket affixed to one side. Huntingland
updown

2019

December 2019
DestroyedCleethorpes, 62 High Street
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, 46 St. Peters Avenue
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, St Peter's Church
DestroyedCleethorpes, St Peter's Primary School
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, 34 Cambridge Street
DestroyedCleethorpes, 1B Cambridge Street
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, 2 Oxford Street
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, 77 Oxford Street
UnknownCleethorpes, 19 Bradford Avenue
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, 46 Bradford Avenue
UnknownCleethorpes, 31 Signhills Avenue
UnknownCleethorpes, 21 Cromwell Road
DestroyedCleethorpes, Bathing Pool
DestroyedCleethorpes, 82 Kingsway
DestroyedCleethorpes, 53 Kingsway
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, 1 Kingsway
DestroyedCleethorpes, Alexandra Road
DestroyedCleethorpes, 30 Alexandra Road
Flush BracketG4702 - Cleethorpes, Dolphin Hotel
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, 20 Grant Street
UnknownCleethorpes, Railway Station
UnknownCleethorpes, North Promenade
Cut Bench MarkCleethorpes, Railway Station
November 2019
Cut Bench MarkSouthwark, Old Library, Dulwich College
Cut Bench MarkSouthwark, Brightlands Boarding House
Cut Bench MarkSouthwark, West Dulwich Station
Cut Bench MarkPortsmouth, The Isambard Kingdom Brunel
October 2019
Cut Bench MarkSouthwark, Imperial War Museum
Flush BracketKennington, Police Station
Cut Bench MarkLambeth, Christ Church & Upton Chapel
Cut Bench MarkLacock, Tithe Barn
Cut Bench MarkBath, 1 Hetling Court
September 2019
Cut Bench MarkWorksop, 146 Carlton Road
Cut Bench MarkWorksop, Carlton Road / Sherwood Road
Cut Bench MarkPontypridd, Railway Bridge, High Street
Flush BracketG3710 - Llandaff, Station Road Bridge
Cut Bench MarkAberdare, Iron Bridge
Cut Bench MarkCardiff, Bute Street
Cut Bench MarkCardiff, Fitzalan Road
Cut Bench MarkPenarth, The Esplanade
Cut Bench MarkPenarth, Stanwell Road Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkPenarth, 2 West Terrace
Cut Bench MarkCardiff, Penarth Road Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkCardiff, Heath Halt Road Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkCardiff, Heath Halt Road Railway Bridge
Flush BracketG3993 - Llanishen, Railway Cottages
Cut Bench MarkCaerphilly, Nantgarw Road Railway Bridge
DestroyedLlanbradach, 2 James Street
DestroyedLlanbradach, Workmen's Hall
Cut Bench MarkCaerphilly, St Martin's Church
Cut Bench MarkYstrad Mynach, A472 Electricity Substation
DestroyedBrithdir, Bristol Terrace School
Cut Bench MarkBrithdir, A469 Wall
Cut Bench MarkBrithdir, 14 Herbert Street
Cut Bench MarkBrithdir, George Inn Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkBrithdir, 1 Charles Street
DestroyedBrithdir, Railway Station
Cut Bench MarkTir-Phil, Railway Station Bridge
Cut Bench MarkTir-Phil, 9 Sunnybank
Cut Bench MarkPontlottyn, Heol Evan Wynne
DestroyedBargoed, Junction Hotel
August 2019
Cut Bench MarkWoburn, Town Hall
Cut Bench MarkTuttington, St Peter and St Paul's Church Porch
Cut Bench MarkTuttington, St Peter and St Paul's Church
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 13 Castle Meadow
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, St Andrew's Hall
Cut Bench Mark with BoltNorwich, St Andrew's Church
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 13 Bedford Street
Cut Bench Mark with BoltNorwich, St John the Baptist Church
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Westwick Street
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Anchor House
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, St Benedicts Street
Cut Bench Mark with BoltNorwich, St Gregory's Church
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, City Hall
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Guildhall
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Castle Gardens
Cut Bench Mark with BoltNorwich, Castle
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Castle Meadow
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 45-51 London Street
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Queen Street / Redwell Street
Cut Bench Mark with BoltNorwich, St Michael-at-Pleas Church
Cut Bench Mark with BoltNorwich, St Peter Hungate Church
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Blackfriars Hall
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 21 Tombland
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Cathedral North Transept
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Cathedral
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Bishopgate
Cut Bench Mark with BoltNorwich, St Helen's Church
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Bishopgate Precinct
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 7 The Close
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 67A The Close
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 28 Tombland
Flush BracketS0280 - Norwich, Anglia House
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, 17 Prince of Wales Road
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Foundry Bridge
Cut Bench MarkNorwich, Railway Station
Cut Bench MarkHorning, St Benet's Abbey
Cut Bench MarkIrstead, St Michael's Church
Cut Bench MarkHorning, Swan Inn
Cut Bench MarkForncett St Peter, Station Road Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkBeighton, Low Farm
Cut Bench MarkSheringham, 25 High Street
Cut Bench MarkWeybourne, Railway Station
DestroyedAylsham, The Manor House
DestroyedAylsham, 3 Norwich Road
DestroyedAylsham, Cromer Road
Cut Bench MarkAylsham, 13A White Hart Street
UnknownAylsham, Garth Cottage, Cromer Road
Flush BracketS9590 - Aylsham, St Michael's Church
DestroyedAylsham, Town Hall
DestroyedAylsham, Auction Mart
July 2019
Cut Bench MarkNottingham, 1 Castle Boulevard
Cut Bench MarkNottingham, Wilford Street Canal Bridge
May 2019
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, The Cottage, West Princes Street Gardens
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, 15 Dalry Road
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Ryrie's
RivetEdinburgh, 1 Grosvenor Crescent
UnknownEdinburgh, Lansdowne Crescent
RivetEdinburgh, Rosebery Crescent / Lansdowne Crescent
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, 62 Haymarket Terrace
PivotEdinburgh, 8 Magdala Crescent
DestroyedEdinburgh, 174 Lauriston Place
DestroyedEdinburgh, 121 Lauriston Place
DestroyedEdinburgh, 106 Lauriston Place
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Lauriston Place
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Lauriston Place
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Royal Infirmary
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Middle Meadow Walk
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Jericho House
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, 31 Castle Terrace
PivotEdinburgh, 16 Spittal Street
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Castle Terrace / Kings Stables Road
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, Robert Melville Monument
PivotEdinburgh, 13-15 Manor Place
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, St Mary's Cathedral
RivetEdinburgh, 25 Palmerston Place
PivotEdinburgh, 62 Palmerston Place
PivotEdinburgh, 22 Douglas Crescent
PivotEdinburgh, 9 Douglas Crescent
Cut Bench MarkEdinburgh, 24 Magdala Crescent
PivotEdinburgh, 20 Magdala Crescent
RivetEdinburgh, 27 Glencairn Crescent
DestroyedOxford, Holywell Cemetery
DestroyedOxford, Longwall Street
DestroyedOxford, 6 Holywell Street
DestroyedOxford, 24 Holywell Street
Cut Bench MarkOxford, The Castle
Cut Bench MarkYattendon, Frilsham Home Farm
April 2019
Cut Bench MarkNorth Moreton, A4130 Fencepost
Cut Bench MarkPortland Bill, Trinity House Landmark
RivetPortland, King Barrow Quarries
Cut Bench MarkPortland, South Entrance, The Verne
UnknownPortland, Boundary Stone #62
UnknownPortland, Waycroft Quarries
Cut Bench MarkPortland, Verne High Angle Battery
UnknownPortland, Verne Hill Road / New Ground
RivetPortand, Upper Incline Bridge
UnknownPortland, Old Hill Wall #3
Cut Bench MarkDorchester, Market Public Toilets
Cut Bench MarkDorchester, Damers Road Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkDorchester, Opposite 7 Victoria Road
DestroyedDorchester, 24/25 Victoria Road
UnknownDorchester, 24 Victoria Road
UnknownDorchester, 42 Cornwall Road
Flush Bracket205 - Dorchester, The Keep
Cut Bench MarkDorchester, Baptist Church
Cut Bench Mark with BoltDorchester, Shire Hall
Cut Bench MarkDorchester, Holy Trinity Church
Cut Bench Mark with BoltDorchester, St Peter's Church
Cut Bench MarkDorchester, United Church
Cut Bench MarkWeymouth, Bond Street / The Esplanade
March 2019
Cut Bench MarkOxford, St Ebbe's Church
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 15 Pembroke Street
RivetOxford, Christ Church College, Main Entrance
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Christ Church College, Gateway
DestroyedOxford, Gloucester Street
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Worcester College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 40A George Street
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Covered Market
DestroyedOxford, Jesus College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, St Martin and All Saints' Church
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Lincoln College Library
Cut Bench MarkOxford, University Church of St Mary the Virgin
Cut Bench Mark with BoltOxford, All Souls College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 2 Meadow Cottages
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Deadmans Walk
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Merton College Chapel
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Merton College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 61 High Street
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Botanic Gardens
DestroyedOxford, Magdalen Bridge
Cut Bench Mark with BoltOxford, Magdalen College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Longwall Street / High Street
Cut Bench Mark with BoltOxford, Queen's College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, St Edmund Hall Library
Cut Bench MarkOxford, New College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Bodleian Library and Schools
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Hertford College
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Old Indian Institute
Cut Bench MarkOxford, Exeter College, Broad Street Buildings
PivotOxford, 56 St Giles
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 6 Pusey Lane
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 43 St John Street
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 60 St John Street
Cut Bench MarkOxford, 1 Worcester Street
February 2019
Cut Bench MarkSheerness, Railway Road
UnknownSheerness, 47 High Street
Flush BracketS6450 - Sheerness, 46 High Street
Cut Bench Mark with BoltBristol, St Mary Redcliffe Church
Cut Bench MarkBristol, Sailors' Home, The Grove
Cut Bench MarkBristol, 40 The Grove
Cut Bench MarkBristol, Cathedral Church of The Holy and Undivided Trinity
Cut Bench MarkBristol, Royal Hotel
Cut Bench MarkBristol, Abbey Gate House
UnknownBristol, Anchor Road
DestroyedBristol, HM Customs Office
UnknownBristol, Bordeaux Quay
Cut Bench MarkBristol, 37-41 Prince Street
Cut Bench MarkBristol, Prince's Hall
Cut Bench MarkBristol, Bush House, Prince Street
January 2019
Cut Bench MarkMelksham, Town Bridge
updown

Welcome

All the bench marks I have logged. See my profile on the Bench Mark Database.

Show Help

By Type

Explanation of Types
Flush BracketFlush Bracket(247)
Projecting BracketProjecting Bracket(6)
OSBM BoltOSBM Bolt(16)
Cut Bench MarkCut Bench Mark(1987)
Cut Bench Mark with BoltCut Bench Mark with Bolt(134)
RivetRivet(142)
PivotPivot(73)
Fundamental BenchmarkFundamental Benchmark(8)
Triangulation PillarTriangulation Pillar(99)
DestroyedDestroyed(435)
UnknownUnknown(343)
 Show All(3490)

By Year

2023 (52)
2022 (94)
2021 (151)
2020 (224)
2019 (221)
2018 (452)
2017 (431)
2016 (385)
2015 (409)
2014 (256)
2013 (120)
2012 (21)
2011 (78)
2010 (54)
2009 (84)
2008 (79)
2007 (249)
2006 (17)
2005 (39)
2004 (72)
2003 (2)