In the Dark and Middle Ages, the church and monasteries erected signposts , Stoops, in remote areas. Often, these were just to define church or parish boundaries, but sometimes they were used to direct the way. However, these were uncontrolled and poorly maintained.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1530, and until the creation of the Ordnance Survey over 300 years later, travelers relied on luck and local knowledge to navigate their way across open land. This, of course, caused problems for trade. Imagine a man delivering salt—a vital item for the preservation of meats—being unable to find a remote homestead or hamlet.
In 1697, William III passed an act forcing landowners to erect signposts at junctions or important locations on trails. Previous to this, there were only wooden poles, random rocks, or cairns. William’s Act stated they had to be made of stone, but because there was no central funding, they varied a lot in stature and detail. Some, like Hope Cross for example, were clear signposts listing towns, villages, and distances. Others were just stone pillars, used to indicate to a traveler that they were at least heading in the right direction.
Some of these still exist; we may pass some over the next few days, though many have been lost to time. There used to be thousands of them around the UK. Anywhere that travelers had to make a decision—left? right? straight on?—had one of these guideposts.
However, there are some that have been used for construction. One is now used as a gatepost for a farm in Edale, and another serves as a lintel for a farmhouse in Baslow.
In the Millennium year 2000, an artist was funded to create 17 modern concrete replicas. These are in no way identical, but are rather “homages.” One can be seen on the track from Barbrook Reservoir to Sheffield Road. Most folk consider this track just a footpath, but it is actually the route of the Sheffield Union Waterworks to the now-disused Ramsley Reservoir.
To walkers on that trail, the stoop is often passed by. To those not looking, it resembles a new, uncomfortable concrete bench for seating. However, carved into it is a head at one end and feet at the other—I imagine it would be very uncomfortable to lie on! There is also an existing ancient one on the moor less than one kilometer from this one.
Finally, there is one in Grindleford, at Goatscliffe Farm. This is an unusual stoop. It has “Sheffield” and “Bakewell” on it, but rather than printing them with direction arrows, the word “Bakewell” is mirrored.