Trinity House Obelisk

Trinity House Obelisk

The Trinity House Obelisk (also known as Trinity House Landmark) is an obelisk located at Portland Bill, on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It has been a Grade II Listed Monument since September 1978.[1] The obelisk was created as a daymark.

History

Trinity House Obelisk

The 7 metre (23 feet) tall white stone obelisk was built in 1844 to warn ships of the rocks off the coast of Portland Bill during the daytime. It stands at the southern tip of the Isle of Portland, and also acts as a warning of the low shelf of rock extending 30 metres (100 feet) south into the sea.[2] In 1877 it was decided to construct two similar stone obelisks to be erected on a hillside overlooking the village of Castletown, on the northern side of the island, at Portland Harbour. Constructed by local convicts in 1877, the obelisks remained in place until they were destroyed during the 1960s.[3]

The obelisk is made of high-quality Portland stone ashlar and is dated 1844 on its north face, with the panel inscribed "TH 1844". It is a three-sided tapering obelisk on a high plinth and with a pyramidal crown.[1] The obelisk is close to the Portland Bill Lighthouse and remains a popular attraction: it is a viewpoint area, with two coin-operated telescopes on either side of the landmark.

English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw's 1984 hit single "The Riddle" featured a photograph of the obelisk on the vinyl's back sleeve. This photograph showed Kershaw reading a map.[4] The artwork of the album of the same name featured Kershaw on Chesil Beach, and the photograph on the back sleeve of the album shows Portland in the background.[5]

Threatened demolition

The monument was saved from threatened demolition in 2002, although a nearby viewing platform was demolished.[6] On 17 October 2002, local newspaper Dorset Echo had published an article under the title "Meeting to hear of plans for Bill obelisk", which was based on the demolition decision. A public meeting to discuss the future of the then 158-year-old obelisk was held at Portland Heights Hotel. Trinity House had announced plans to demolish the obelisk because it was becoming too expensive to maintain, and the authority announced that it was prepared to contribute £12,500 towards the obelisk's preservation if an appeal was launched. During 2002, campaigners won a battle to keep the monument standing; despite this, the Dorset Echo article had said that Trinity House had claimed that nobody had come forward with any financial assistance for the upkeep of the redundant landmark.

David Brewer, the Trinity House director of administration, was quoted in the article saying, "To date no proposals have been forthcoming so we have decided to hold a public meeting to discuss future options for the obelisk. Trinity House wish to work with the local community to secure the long-term future of the former seamark and could provide a financial contribution to support any fundraising activities to assist the transfer of responsibility for the obelisk to the local community."[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The National Heritage List for England | English Heritage". List.english-heritage.org.uk. 1978-09-21. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  2. ↑ "Portland Bill Lighthouse". Trinityhouse.co.uk. 1996-03-18. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  3. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0946159345.
  4. ↑ "Nik Kershaw - The Riddle / Progress - MCA - UK - NIK 6". 45cat. 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  5. ↑ "Images for Nik Kershaw - The Riddle". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  6. ↑ "Portland Bill, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  7. ↑ "Meeting to hear of plans for Bill obelisk (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 2002-10-17. Retrieved 2013-01-21.

Coordinates: 50°30′48″N 2°27′24″W / 50.5132°N 2.4567°W

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