THE LONG STORY
SO THIS IS A MILLENNIUM MILEPOST [LOCATED ON THE LAGANBANK ROAD IN BELFAST]
The Walk & The Encounter
The weather made for a challenging start to my Belfast trip. Although I had dressed for the rain, the wind was relentless, and keeping the lens of my Leica Q3 dry was nearly impossible.
I had decided to pack it in and return to the hotel when I spotted a vibrant, colourful item standing out against the grey day. It marked the location of The Plastik, a now-defunct nightclub on the River Lagan. Situated on Mays Meadow, The Plastik was once an iconic venue for clubbers, known for its distinct architecture and big-name DJs, though it now stands as a quiet relic of a different era.
Cold and tired, I turned to head back. As I neared the hotel, I walked past a very young Roma girl. I didn't pay her much attention until my camera suddenly complained that the battery was exhausted.
I put my hand in my pocket to fish out a fresh battery, but instead, my fingers brushed against a clear plastic presentation pouch containing some Sterling notes and coins. Feeling the bite of the wind and seeing how miserable the weather was, I decided to retrace my steps.
I approached the young girl and handed her the pouch. "Santa told me to give you this," I said.
She looked genuinely delighted. "I know," she replied. "I write to him every Christmas and he always does something nice for me."
It sounds like a made-up Christmas story, but it is the absolute truth. It was a moment of warmth on a freezing day.
Mystery Solved — The "Star" of the Lagan Towpath
But what about that colourful object I photographed near the old nightclub? After some digging, I can confirm it is a piece of UK nationwide art history hiding in plain sight.
It is a "Millennium Milepost."
This sculpture is one of 1,000 Millennium Mileposts commissioned by the charity Sustrans to mark the creation of the National Cycle Network in the year 2000. Funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Millennium Commission, these posts were installed across the UK to serve as both functional mile markers and public art.
Decoding the Design There were four official designs created for the project, each by an artist from a different country of the UK. The one I photographed is known as "The Rowe," designed by the Welsh sculptor Andrew Rowe.
The "Star" Finial: This isn't just a random star; the design is based on nautical and industrial heritage (inspired by Rowe's native Swansea). The "star" shape is actually a stylised set of directional fingers, intended to point cyclists toward different towns or routes.
The "M" Logo: The mysterious "M" cast into the white mid-section stands for Millennium. It is the official logo of the Millennium Commission, which distributed National Lottery funding for projects celebrating the turn of the century.
The Colours: The vibrant blue, white, and gold paintwork is likely the result of a recent community restoration. Many of these posts (originally plain cast iron) have been adopted by local schools and volunteer groups who repaint them to reflect their local area—in this case, the maritime colours of Belfast's docks.
A Hidden Time Capsule? One of the coolest secrets of these posts is that many contain a hidden "Time Capsule" code. If you look closely at the gold disc near the top, it often features a relief image and a coded cypher. In 2001, these formed part of a nationwide treasure hunt called the "Millennium Time Trail." Although the competition ended decades ago, the code disks remain as a puzzle for sharp-eyed passersby.
Tip for all: You can check the metal disc on the "neck" of the sculpture next time you are in Belfast. It should have a unique pattern (like a fossil or a symbol) that identifies exactly which number milepost this is in the series! I will check when I visit again in May.
The Walk & The Encounter
The weather made for a challenging start to my Belfast trip. Although I had dressed for the rain, the wind was relentless, and keeping the lens of my Leica Q3 dry was nearly impossible.
I had decided to pack it in and return to the hotel when I spotted a vibrant, colourful item standing out against the grey day. It marked the location of The Plastik, a now-defunct nightclub on the River Lagan. Situated on Mays Meadow, The Plastik was once an iconic venue for clubbers, known for its distinct architecture and big-name DJs, though it now stands as a quiet relic of a different era.
Cold and tired, I turned to head back. As I neared the hotel, I walked past a very young Roma girl. I didn't pay her much attention until my camera suddenly complained that the battery was exhausted.
I put my hand in my pocket to fish out a fresh battery, but instead, my fingers brushed against a clear plastic presentation pouch containing some Sterling notes and coins. Feeling the bite of the wind and seeing how miserable the weather was, I decided to retrace my steps.
I approached the young girl and handed her the pouch. "Santa told me to give you this," I said.
She looked genuinely delighted. "I know," she replied. "I write to him every Christmas and he always does something nice for me."
It sounds like a made-up Christmas story, but it is the absolute truth. It was a moment of warmth on a freezing day.
Mystery Solved — The "Star" of the Lagan Towpath
But what about that colourful object I photographed near the old nightclub? After some digging, I can confirm it is a piece of UK nationwide art history hiding in plain sight.
It is a "Millennium Milepost."
This sculpture is one of 1,000 Millennium Mileposts commissioned by the charity Sustrans to mark the creation of the National Cycle Network in the year 2000. Funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Millennium Commission, these posts were installed across the UK to serve as both functional mile markers and public art.
Decoding the Design There were four official designs created for the project, each by an artist from a different country of the UK. The one I photographed is known as "The Rowe," designed by the Welsh sculptor Andrew Rowe.
The "Star" Finial: This isn't just a random star; the design is based on nautical and industrial heritage (inspired by Rowe's native Swansea). The "star" shape is actually a stylised set of directional fingers, intended to point cyclists toward different towns or routes.
The "M" Logo: The mysterious "M" cast into the white mid-section stands for Millennium. It is the official logo of the Millennium Commission, which distributed National Lottery funding for projects celebrating the turn of the century.
The Colours: The vibrant blue, white, and gold paintwork is likely the result of a recent community restoration. Many of these posts (originally plain cast iron) have been adopted by local schools and volunteer groups who repaint them to reflect their local area—in this case, the maritime colours of Belfast's docks.
A Hidden Time Capsule? One of the coolest secrets of these posts is that many contain a hidden "Time Capsule" code. If you look closely at the gold disc near the top, it often features a relief image and a coded cypher. In 2001, these formed part of a nationwide treasure hunt called the "Millennium Time Trail." Although the competition ended decades ago, the code disks remain as a puzzle for sharp-eyed passersby.
Tip for all: You can check the metal disc on the "neck" of the sculpture next time you are in Belfast. It should have a unique pattern (like a fossil or a symbol) that identifies exactly which number milepost this is in the series! I will check when I visit again in May.
THE LONG STORY