Coal Tax pillars

White pillars, 9 inches square and 3 feet high, upon which is a shield with a red cross and the legends "24 & 25 Vic" and "Cap 42" appear in various locations on the outskirts of London. These pillars, painted white, with black bases and black borders around the top, are Coal Tax pillars. They date from the late 18th century and were sited on all the main approach routes to London.

They marked the boundaries of areas under the jurisdiction of the City of London. At these points a levy was paid on the coal, and possibly other goods, being transported into London. The original reason was to pay for the rebuilding of London following the Great Fire which started on 2nd September 1666.

Some posts are also to be found alongside canals and railways. They tend to mark the present day county boundaries and there are some fine examples in Middlesex which equate roughly to the edge of old Middlesex.

They were made in cast iron at the old Regents Wharf Ironworks in Camden by Grissell & Sons, who also made London's first street letter-boxes. Various scripts are to be found on the plates, including the Middlesex coat of arms.