MORE than £22,000 has now been spent on restoring 160 traditional Dorset fingerposts – in a scheme which started in 2017.

Campaigning charity CPRE say that of the 1,300 fingerposts thought to have existed in the 1950s just 717 survive today.

Many were taken down during the Second World War, in case they were used to guide enemies, and were never replaced.

In more modern times some have been lost through neglect with the local council no longer having a remit to repair them, although in many cases town and parish councils have taken action.

Members of the Dorset Campaign for the Protection of Rural England stepped in to help when they realized that some of the signs could be lost forever and today are still inviting applications.

Since the Dorset CPRE grant scheme was launched in 2017, the charity has paid out £22,337.50 towards the restoration of 160 traditional fingerposts helping to keep these local treasures and save them from extinction.

Said a CPRE spokesperson: "Fingerposts are a common feature of the Dorset countryside and are a legacy of the early road system. In 1773 the General Turnpike Act made it mandatory for trustees to put up signs informing the traveller of the distance to the closest town…

"Some of the originals have been repaired using non-traditional materials or lettering, and others are in need of attention. The Local Authority no longer has a remit to repair them, and both the Dorset National Landscape (formerly Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and Dorset CPRE are keen to support local 'Fingerpost Champions' to save these signs from extinction and restore them to their former glory. Hundreds of signs have been renewed by Parish and Town Councils, community groups, and individuals."

Roger Bond (Dorset Fingerpost Restorers) co-ordinates the Dorset National Landscape Fingerpost restoration project, working from his home workshop repairing and restoring characters on new oak 'fingers' whilst Coles Castings in Melbury Abbas provides new stock of cast lettering and roundels ready for fettling and painting.

Mr Bond first became involved in fingerpost restoration projects ten years ago, when he stepped in to assist with the repair of a bracket on the Green Hill Junction fingerpost at Sutton Poyntz. Since then, he has been engaged in restoring over two hundred traditional fingerposts around the county. The experience gained is now collated in his new website to help others restore their village fingerposts and can be viewed on https://www.dorsetfingerpostrestorers.co.uk/.

Roger has managed and supported the full reinstatement of one of all four of Dorset's 'Red Posts', including one at Horsey Knapp near Evershot (pictured).

This post had been badly damaged a couple of times in recent years and a new location opposite, away from traffic, was provided by a local farmer. Dorset Highways agreed the new site and provided a new post. New oak fingers and alloy lettering were prepared and fitted by a local volunteer, Nigel Clarke, who also fitted the fully refurbished bracket assembly and roundel.

Said Mr Bond: "This distinctive fingerpost, one of four we have restored in Dorset, is now looking good and in a safer position. Thanks to Dorset National Landscape for the new oak and a grant from Dorset CPRE."

"Dorset has only a few surviving fully cast-iron fingerposts, so we were pleased to have fully restored this post in the centre of Evershot village. After several visits and much surface preparation and painting, a missing finger was located and a new cast finger to Holywell was fitted: made by Coles Castings foundry."

Said Neil Matthews, Chair of Dorset CPRE: "These distinctive signposts which show, not only distances and directions, but also the grid reference of the junctions concerned are a real boon to walkers and drivers in the county. I am pleased that Dorset CPRE are able to support this scheme which enhances the character and uniqueness of the Dorset countryside."

Dorset CPRE offer a small grant scheme, up to £200 per post, for people wanting to restore fingerposts using the correct materials as set out by the Dorset National Landscape. Match funding is not required and there is no application form, but the group asks that requests come from a Parish Council representative (or similar), with a summary of the fingerposts that need repairing, their location(s) and estimated costs.