Boundary stones inscribed with the letters ‘ILB’ denoting Ivybridge Local Board can be found in various locations around the town. They marked the area of jurisdiction for the Local Board of Health, the acting sanitary authority for Ivybridge established in 1872. Originally there were a total of 10 locations where the stones were instated but sadly not all remain today, some having been lost over the years following redevelopment.
In 2016, Ivybridge Heritage & Archive Group successfully coordinated the retrieval of one of the missing boundary stones at Erme Playing Fields. Reported missing back in 1996, it was spotted in the river some distance away from its former position. With help from the contractors working at the recycling centre, the boundary stone was retrieved from the river and reinstated close to its original position on 31 August 2016.
Furthermore, our group coordinated the restoration work on two more boundary stones situated on Exeter Road, cleaning and raising them up to their original state, whilst the historic milestone a short distance away, received a fresh coat of white paint.
The Public Health Act 1848 saw the introduction of an organised structure for public health across the nation. In areas which were reporting high death rates, an elected Board of Health was required but this only covered around 10 per cent of the urban population. The creation of a truly nation-wide Public Health Service did not occur until 1872 with the Public Health Act which mapped out the country into Sanitary Districts with elected Boards of Health, bringing the supply of water, sewerage, drainage, street cleansing, paving and environmental health regulation under a single local body.
On 6 Jan 1873 the Ivybridge Local Board of Health declared its members. A local board of health was permitted to appoint a number of employees including a surveyor, a clerk, a treasurer and an officer of health who had to be a qualified doctor. It was compulsory for the Board to appoint an inspector of nuisances, (a sanitary inspector) to investigate complaints and take action against ‘nuisances’. These ranged from environmental public health problems such as insanitary dwellings, the accumulation of refuse and sewage, smoke, smells and other industrial emissions, polluted water, noise, adulterated food and slaughterhouse issues.
The local board was tasked with all the responsibilities of a sanitary district. It was also given authority to purchase land. Where necessary, these local boards were required to define the boundaries of their jurisdiction. Shortly after the creation of the Local Board, carved stones inscribed with the large letters ‘ILB’ were placed around the boundary of Ivybridge.
The location of the first boundary stone is at Longtimber Woods between the lower path and the River Erme. It is just prior to the Council Notice Board, near Hunter’s Path.
The second boundary stone was reported missing in 1996 but is now located on top of the bank, deep in the undergrowth.
At the junction of Kennel Lane (the footpath) and Blachford Road the third boundary stone can clearly be seen on the roadside.
There were 3 stones sited in this fourth area, the first is on Cornwood Road, opposite the western boundary of Hannahs and probably lost due to roadworks. The second is on Woodland Road, opposite Kennel Lane but not visible. and the third, on Westlake Lane, adjacent to the entrance to the Garden Centre at Endsleigh. This latter stone is currently not visible and may be lost.
The boundary stone was reported missing in 1996. It was for many years considered lost, until a member of our group located it, some 120 feet downstream of its original location. After its successful retrieval it was re-instated on Wednesday August 31st 2016.
The sixth location is on Ermington Road, just south of the entrance to the playing field and tennis courts. It is assumed that this stone is now lost.
The seventh location is on Godwell Lane adjacent to the stream between the A38 embankment and the veterinary surgery. This stone maybe have been lost during the construction of the A38.
Godwell Lane is also the location of the eighth boundary stone. It is partially let into the stone bank on the east of the lane.
