ANOTHER of Exmoor’s iconic roadside fingerposts has been destroyed after apparently being hit by a vehicle.

Most parts of the Beech Tree Cross signpost, on Lyddon’s Hill, near Brompton Regis, were recovered by national park authority volunteer Jeremy Davies.

But some pieces are still missing, including two of the fingers and the finial.

Now the authority has issued an urgent appeal for help to find the parts in order to keep down the cost of repairs.

Parts of Exmoor's damaged Beech Tree Cross fingerpost recovered by volunteer Jeremy Davies.
Parts of Exmoor's damaged Beech Tree Cross fingerpost recovered by volunteer Jeremy Davies. (ENPA)

A spokesperson said: “The signpost at Beech Tree Cross has been knocked down and broken.

“Thank you to our volunteer Jeremy, who has been out and retrieved the name collar and one finger.

“Unfortunately, two fingers and the finial are still missing.

“If you spot any missing parts and can hand in to Exmoor House, Dulverton, we would be grateful.

“Finding as many parts as possible would really help with the repair job.”

Last year, Mr Davies and fellow volunteer Margaret Rawle helped repair two other important Exmoor fingerposts.

One near Brushford suffered ‘significant damage’ after it was believed to have been knocked down by a vehicle, while vandals were thought to have damaged a signpost at Withypool Cross, near Hawkridge.

Beech Tree Cross fingerpost, on Exmoor, before it was damaged.
Beech Tree Cross fingerpost, on Exmoor, before it was damaged. (ENPA)

Exmoor has more than 200 cast-iron fingerposts, relics from a by-gone motoring age, existing today because Somerset and Devon were among a few counties which did not replace them in the 1960s with aluminium signs when told to do so by the Government.

The cost of replacing just one finger can be as much as £1,000 because each has to be uniquely cast in a foundry. 

Today, they are a source of Exmoor pride admired by many visitors from other parts of the country, but the maintenance costs have to be borne by parish councils, who use community volunteers to care for them.

Fingerpost volunteers Jeremy Davies and Margret Rawle. Jeremy hand-painted the cast iron signposts at both ‘12 acre’ and Withypool Cross after they were welded back together by a local company, while Margaret found and reported broken pieces of the ‘12 acre’ signpost near Brushford.
Fingerpost volunteers Jeremy Davies and Margret Rawle, who helped repair two damaged signs in 2023. (ENPA)

The authority raised thousands of pounds through its CareMoor charity to fund restoration of damaged fingerposts in 2017-18.

The spokesperson said anybody who saw damaged signposts should report it by emailing [email protected].

Anybody who wants to help keep signposts on Exmoor looking their best can visit the authority’s website here to donate.