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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
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2024

August 2024
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, 19 Southtown
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, 72 Above Town
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, 41 Above Town
DestroyedDartmouth, 19 Above Town
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, 10 Crowthers Hill
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, South Ford Road / Crowthers Hill
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, St Saviour's Church
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, 15 Duke Street
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, St John the Baptist Church
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, Holdsworth House
Flush BracketDartmouth, 49 Newcomen Road
Cut Bench MarkDartmouth, Lower Street / Mansion House Street
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, Wayford, Ridley Hill
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, The Grange, Castle Road
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, Kingswear Court Lodge
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, Castle Road Southwest Side
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, Castle Road North Side
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, Castle Road South Side
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, Brookhill Visitor's Entrance
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, Ridley Hill / Castle Road
Cut Bench MarkKingswear, The Old Vicarage, Church Hill
Cut Bench MarkPaignton, Preston Baptist Church
DestroyedPaignton, Paignton Zoo #2
DestroyedPaignton, Paignton Zoo #1
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Higher Furzeham Road
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 1 Traflagar Terrace
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Berry Head Farm
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Berry Lodge, Victoria Road
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Coast Guard Lookout
Triangulation PillarS3520 - Berry Head
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Berry Head Fort
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Gillard Road / Sea Lane
UnknownBrixham, 2 Gillard Road
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 25 Edinburgh Road
DestroyedBrixham, Rea Barn Road
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 1 Greenswood Court
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 24 Bolton Street
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 40 South Furzeham Road
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Station Hill Railway Bridge
DestroyedBrixham, Prince of Orange Monument
UnknownBrixham, Fishcombe Cove Stile
UnknownBrixham, John Musgrave Heritage Trail
RivetBrixham, The Grove Stile
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Berry Head Road
Flush BracketG5069 - Brixham, Town Hall and Market Hall
RivetBrixham, All Saints Church
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 13 Higher Street
RivetBrixham, 6 The Strand
UnknownChurston Ferrers, Copythorne Road Gatepost
Cut Bench MarkChurston Ferrers, Copythorne Road Stile
DestroyedBrixham, King's Quay
DestroyedBrixham, North View Road
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 17 Ranscombe Road
RivetBrixham, 95-97 King Street
RivetBrixham, 65 King Street
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, King Street
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, 77 Fore Street
DestroyedBrixham, Furze Lane / Pump Street
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, The Quay / Overgang Road
Cut Bench MarkBrixham, Overgang Road
UnknownBrixham, Blackball Lane
UnknownAbingdon, 44 Masefield Crescent
July 2024
Triangulation PillarS2505 - Shepherds Hill
RivetLetcombe Bassett, St Michael & All Angels Church
PivotAberystwyth, 7 Marine Terrace
Cut Bench MarkAberystwyth, Old College
Flush BracketAberystwyth, Hillside, Penglais Road
Cut Bench MarkAberystwyth, Bronglais Hospital
May 2024
DestroyedLeamington Spa, Coal Yard
Cut Bench MarkLeamington Spa, Old Warwick Road
Cut Bench MarkBirmingham, 201 Lea Hall Road
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, Derby Street East
UnknownBurton upon Trent, Horninglow Street
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, 3 Hawkins Lane
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, Hawkins Lane Railway Bridge
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, Wharf Road
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, Gas Depot, Wetmore Road
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 304 Wetmore Road
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 267 Wetmore Road
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 241 Wetmore Road
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, Wetmore Community Centre
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, Hawkins Lane Railway Bridge
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, 79 Derby Road
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 63 Derby Road
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, Alpine Taxis, Derby Road
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, Railway Bridge Inn
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 143 Derby Street
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, 60 Victoria Road
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, 27 Albert Street
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 54 Derby Street
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 200 Derby Street
DestroyedBurton upon Trent, 11-12 Derby Street
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, 36 Borough Road
Cut Bench MarkBurton upon Trent, Borough Road Railway Bridge
DestroyedBirmingham, Moor Street / Shut Lane
RivetNewbury, Marsh Lane
Cut Bench MarkBelfast, 24 Sandown Road
April 2024
Cut Bench MarkLewisham, Plumstead High Street Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkUffington, Wharf Farm
Cut Bench MarkUffington, Fernham Road Railway Bridge
Cut Bench MarkBaulking, St Nicholas Church
Cut Bench MarkWoodstock, River Glyme Bridge
Cut Bench MarkWoodstock, Ladder Cottage
UnknownBlenheim Park, Fishery Cottage
Cut Bench MarkBlenheim Park, Column of Victory
Cut Bench MarkNorthmoor, St Denys Church
January 2024
Cut Bench MarkHeadley, Wheatlands Barn
Cut Bench MarkBurghclere, Palmer's Hill House
Cut Bench MarkLydiard Tregoze, St Mary's Church
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Explanation of Types
Flush BracketFlush Bracket(250)
Projecting BracketProjecting Bracket(6)
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RivetRivet(149)
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DestroyedDestroyed(456)
UnknownUnknown(351)
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