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- Last Updated: Wednesday, 28 April 2021 18:57
- Written by Graham Brooks
TRIG POINTS.
Trig points or to give them their correct name triangulation pillars were constructed by the Ordnance Survey when they re-triangulated the original surveys of the country in 1933. They were added to over the years, but now the majority are no longer used with modern arial photgraphy and satellite imaging used for map making.
Diagramatic representation of a trig column.
top of a Trig point showing the brass mountings for the theodolite. 
Flush brackets on side of trig point. Each Trig pillar has the flush bracket illustrated if it is still present. Flush brackets were afixed to other structures to allow further leveling. For these flush brackets follow link
A plate on the trig point on High Street, Cumbria showing this trig point is still used.
Not all pillars were put up by the Ordnance survey, in areas around the coast very similar pillars can be found that were put up by the Admiralty. Usually shown on maps as Hydrographic survey pillar.
An Admiralty pillar at Loch Ewe Scotland NG 815 919.
Plate on top of pillar.
pillars and other structures have been errected in the countryside to allow surveying to take place usually for major engineering projects
Structure on Artle Crag (NY 484 103) built for the construction of the Haweswater Reservoir.
A second pillar on Tarn Crag NY 48752 07800.
Cumbrian Pennine and Howgill Trig points.
High on the north Pennines this colun is on the Cumbrian - Durham border. Height 747m.
The small summit just to the south of Hartside cafe. Height 634m.
Flush bracket.
The top to the north of Hartside cafe. Height 664m.
Englands newest mountain a recent survey has shown this to be over 2000 ft. It was surveyed at 609.62 m. 2 cm over the metric equivalent of 2,000 ft.
BLACK HILL NY 64135 63455
Situated sout of the A69 and just off the Pennine Way 289m
Height 676 m.
Flush Bracket on the calf.
Height 893m the highest point in England outside the Lake District.
Flush bracket on trig point.
MIDDLE FELL TRIG NY 749 441 HEIGHT 575.
Flush bracket on trig.
Height 591m.
Flush bracket.
Height 656m
HARD RIGG. NY 74987 48760. On the Cumbria Northumberland border
Height 546m.
Height 350 m
HARDBERRY HILL NY 931 289
HEIGHT 529M.
above Caldbeck. The top now has aview indicator on it At a height of 658m.
The out lying fell at the northern end height 447m.
A variation on the Trig point this one is a concrete pad at ground level.
Height 373m.
Height 828m.
Flush bracket on trig point.
BLENCATHRA (SADDLEBACK) NY 323 277.
HEIGHT 868 M.
height 762m.
Flush Bracket on Trig point.
Height 692m.
Flush plate on trig point
Height 572m
Flush bracket.
OS TRIG ON ARTLECRAG PIKE (BRANSTREE) NY 478 100.
OS TRIG POINT RED SCREES NY 396 087 HEIGHT 776M
Flush plate.
LOADPOT HILL NY 457 181 HEIGHT 671m.
Flush Bracket.
BURNT KNOTT NY 484 006. HEIGHT 427M.
Flush bracket.
CLOUGH HEAD TRIG POINT NY 334 225 HEIGHT 726M.
Flush bracket on trig.
CRAG HILL TRIG POINT NY 193 204 HEIGHT 839M.
This trig point built from stone from the summit has snapped and the top has become detached from its base (metal rods to left of column in photo) The flush bracket was missing. (January 2016)
CONISTON OLD MAN SD 272 978. HEIGHT 803M.
Flush bracket.
LANKRIGG TRIG PILLAR. NY 914 119 HEIGHT 541m.
LITTLE MEL FELL TRIG POINT NY 423 240 HEIGHT 505m.
Flush Bracket.
GOWBARROW FELL (AIREY CRAG) TRIG POINT NY 407 218 HEIGHT 481m.
Flush Bracket.
PLACE FELL TRIG POINT NY 4055 1697 HEIGHT 657M.
Flush plates.
GREAT BOURNE FELL NY 12384 16347 HEIGHT 616 M.
Flush plate.
GRAYRIGG FOREST TRIG SD 599 998 HEIGHT 494M.
Since the enlargement of the lake District National Park in 2016 this hill by the side of the M6 is now in the Park.
Flush bracket.
Trig point on Skiddaw NY 26066 29075 height 931m.
Flush bracket.
KENTMERE PIKE TRIG POINT NY 46547 07790 HEIGHT 730M
Flush bracket.
BLACK CRAG NY34021 01592 HEIGHT 322M.
Flush bracket.
ARNSIDE KNOTT
Glasson Trig Point NY 259 609. height 17m. A trig point close to the Solway Coast mounted on a concrete pillar.
Flush bracket on trig point
COAL PIT HILL TRIG NY 592 109 height 401 m.
On top of the hill overlooking the M6 south of Shap summit.
HUTTON ROOF CRAG SD 556 775 HEIGHT 274M,
Arnside Knott SD 45616 77470 height 159m.
Flush bracket.
Calf Top SD 66447 85628 height 610m.
Flush Bracket.
This trig point is on the Southern Upland Way and lies next to one of Andy Goldsworthy's Striding Arches. Height 580m.
Height 680m
Height 317m.
HEIGHT 815M Tewchnically this is in England but very close to the border.
GREATMOOR NT 4897 0068 height 599m.
BISHOP FOREST HILL NX 849 796 Height 392m.
Flush Bracket on trig point.
ALMAGILL HILL NY 089 757. Height 217 m.
A small hill to the west of the river Annan and south of Lochmaben.
Although tis is a small hill it is full of interest. The Graham memorial is next to the treig point and there is two hill top forts (Moss Castle and Range Castle) further along the ridge. All easily accessible from the Annandale Way.
Flush plate on Trig Point.
LITTLE QUEENSBERRY HILL NX 984 978.
Height 512m.
BROAD LAW TRIG POINT NT 147 235
Height 841m
Note part of the radio beacon station in the background.
Height 817m.
TRIG ON SHALLOCH ON MINNOCH NX 404 907.
Height 768m.
A low level Trig point on the edge of the Solway 8m above sea level. Global warming could soon remove this trig.
WOODCOCK AIR TRIG POINT NY 170 722 HEIGHT 129M
Now totally surrounded by trees with no view.
Flush bracket on column.
WISPA HILL TRIG POINT NY 381 993 HEIGHT 595M.
Flush bracket on trig point.
BENGRAY TRIG POINT NX 631 598 HEIGHT 366.
Flush Bracket.
BENCAIRN TRIG POINT NX 770 545 HEIGHT 391M.
fLUSH BRACKET.
Height 578m.
Height 418 m.
TRIG ON BEN MACDUI. NN988 989.
Britains second highest mountain at 1309m.
flush bracket on trig point.
TRIG ON GEAL-CHARN MOR NH 836 123.
Height 824 m.
Flush bracket on Trig point.
TRIG ON BEINN FHIONNLAIDH NN 095 498.
A Munro Height 959m.
height 308m. A small hilll overlooking Ardmucknish Bay north of Oban.
Trig point on Creag Dhubh NN 322 825 height 658m.
BEINN AN EOIN NG 902 651. This concrete pillar has been destroyed with only the base remaining.
Red Point Trig point. NG 725 678 42m.
Flush Bracket Red Point Trig point.
Beinn Fhada (Ben Attow) NH 01857 19245 Height 1032m.
Beinn fhada flush plate.
Sgurr an Airgid NG 94015 22698 Height 841m. This phot taken in July 2015 shows that this trig pillar is breaking up in the Scottish winters. It is a hollow concrete tube.
Flush olate on Sgurr an Airgid trig.
Deuchary Hill NO 037 485 Height 510m.
Flush Bracket on Deuchary Hill
DUN I (IONA) TRIG PILLAR NM 284 252 HEIGHT 101m.
DUN DU GHAOITE (MULL) NM 678 354 HEIGHT 754m.
FLUSH BRACKETS AND BENCH MARKS
Flush bracket on Rhudil House, Cumwhinton Number 1358, NY 448 525. Height 212.6800 feet [64.8249 metres] (1912 - 1922). Originally the house was the Horse and Jockey.
Flush Bracket on railway bridge, Cumwhinton, number 1359, NY 4544 5309. 205.7230 feet [62.7044 metres] (1912 - 1922 leveling)
Flush Bracket on railway bridge, Wetheral, Number 3831, NY 4656 5472.
Flush bracket on buiulding at The Sands Brampton. NY 535 611.
Flush bracket on the Police station (magistrates Court) Brampton NY 52722 61061.
Flush Bracket on St. James Church, Tebay
Flush bracket on the Eden Bridge at Appleby.
HODDAM BRIDGE BRACKET.
Flush bracket Ravenstonedale Church
Flush bracket on outside of the Brunswick Road Infant School Penrith used in the 3rd survey 1950 - 1968 on the Penrith to Wetheral line.
Flush Bracket attached to outside wall of old Wesleyean Chapel, Bothel, Cumbria. Dating from the 1920s.
BENCH MARKS.
Below the flush bracket the Ordnance Survey provided a set of Bench Marks usually carved into a suitable stone. these consist of an arrow with a bar across the top. The majority are rather insignificant and can br easily overlooked.
The majority of Bench Marks are shown on large scale Ordnance Survey maps allong with their height above sea level.
A bench mark carved into a gate post in a field near Grinsdale.
A bench mark carved into a quoin on a barn at Grinsdale.
But occasionally they are embellished.
This bench mark is carved into a stone beside the door into Temple Sowerby Church. The height above sea level is very precise 348 feet 9 inches.