The Lower Caldecote milestone, unearthed in a field in the nearby village of Edworth, was unveiled in a ceremony last Thursday. It is a rare survivor of a number of waymarkers installed on the Great North Road following the Parliamentary Act of 1725, which were removed during World War II.

The UK's Highways Agency agreed to re-install the milestone on behalf of Northill Parish Council after a farmer discovered it buried in a field. The stone has been restored by the Milestone Society, which works to identify, record, research and interpret waymarkers.

Keith Hutchinson, Highways Agency Route Performance Manager said: "We were pleased to be able to help the parish council reinstate this piece of history. It is unusual to find these prized milestones intact. We asked our agents to set the milestone in a safe place so it will last for future generations to enjoy."

The milestone was unveiled by Hugh Bygraves, a local resident who has lived there for 57 years and is the longest standing resident of Caldecote, and local parish councillor Peter Maudlin.

Northill parish clerk Linda Trevena said: "We are grateful to the Highways Agency for installing the milestone. We were really impressed by how responsive all the different authorities have been, and how well they have worked together. The council is delighted that this part of Caldecote's history has been saved."

The milestone has been installed at Lower Caldecote in a service road on the A1 northbound. The service road is the original line of the Great North Road.