Windmill Walkers

A brief history of the History of Ordnance Survey triangulation pillars

An extract from the Ordnance Survey web site:

"2016 marked 80 years since the trig pillar was first used in the retriangulation of Great Britain on 18 April 1936. On that day, a group of surveyors gathered around a white concrete pillar in a field in Cold Ashby and began the retriangulation of Great Britain.

We’re celebrating by sharing the story of the humble trig pillar, still much loved by walkers today... But what is the background to the trig pillar?"

Windmill Walkers' Triangulation Pillar Adoption

January 2022

Now that they are no longer used for surveying purposes the Windmill Walkers decided to "adopt" a local one in order to maintain it as historical site and raise public awareness of for what purpose triangulation pillars were used.

08 June 2022

An updated photo of our trig point taken today.  Just need to straighten the side edges and a bit of planting with small shrubs and spring bulbs.

Where is it?  Follow this link to view a map.

Photos of the restoration are further down this page.