Exclusive by Alan Quick

A LOCAL man volunteered weeks of his own time to repair the historic and relatively unique fingerpost, the traditional type of signpost, at Forches Cross, at the top of Jockey Hill on the outskirts of Crediton towards Sandford.

Martin Binks, of Kennerleigh, painstakingly undertook the job of repairing the worn fingerpost, which had many letters and numbers missing on the rotting posts.

The fingerpost is considered relatively unique at Forches Cross as it is a five finger post, has carved underhangs and is of the “Mitchell” post type design.

The original post was made from traditional British oak and Martin said that although it looked rotten, it was in reasonable core condition and should last about another 100 years.

He explained that much of the Forches Cross wooden fingerposts had disintegrated.

Martin was able to acquire some reclaimed old English pine through Winkleigh reclamation store which came from an old warehouse in Salford, Manchester, which he used to make the new wooden arms of the sign post.

He added that he even had to make some of the new letters and numbers and after having removed the existing letters and numbers, was able to use those to make moulds to cast new ones.

After he repaired the wooden post and arms, as well as fixing the new letters and numbers, he spent a lot of time painting it.

Martin explained that the post is 12 feet long, four feet of which goes underground leaving the top eight feet visible.

The signpost bears the words "ACP" at the top and if anyone knows what this relates to, Mr Binks would be pleased to know.

Martin was thanked for undertaking the job of repairing the signpost by Crediton Town Councillor Mike Szabo.

Crediton Town Council recently expressed thanks to Martin and said he had "very kindly and generously given up his time" to restore the fingerpost, adding: "We think he has done a fantastic job!"