PHOTOGRAPHED DECEMBER 2025

I LIKE THIS MARKER

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.