Dorset Fingerposts are a part of Dorset's unique heritage landscape and are an iconic and unique sight here in the county of Dorset.  These old road signs featuring a white or occasionally red metal roundel, with arms, known as fingers, pointing in the direction of travel.  They are a common feature of the Dorset countryside, 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. In the 20th century the responsibility for fingerposts was given to individual local authorities; the Ministry of Transport recommended a design, but it was left up to individual councils to make the final decision, which meant that there was a wide variety of local styles. The Ministry for Transport specifically asked the County Councils in Dorset and the West Riding of Yorkshire to experiment with the inclusion of a grid reference and this style of fingerpost roundel remains unique to these two council areas.  ​Dorset Council created its own distinctive finger post design; constructed with a central metal post, with a number of white wooden pointers or fingers, originally with curved ends but more recent ones may have pointed fingers.  ​The destination on the sign is in black, individual, upper case metal lettering, together with the mileage.  On the top is the white metal roundel (just like the London Underground sign), on which the name of the junction is displayed on the horizontal bar.  The six-figure grid reference is on the bottom half, of the roundel, ‘Dorset’ is painted in black, on the top half. Sadly, over the years we have lost nearly half and it is thanks to the Dorset National Landscape Partnership who oversees the project, with the full support of the dedicated team of professional and communities we are pleased that many are now being restored and keeping part our of Dorset heritage alive.  Written and supplied by James Purkiss