Retaining Wall and Statues and Observatory Pond is a Grade II listed building in the Ribble Valley local planning authority area, England. First listed on 29 December 1952. Pond and retaining wall.

Retaining Wall and Statues and Observatory Pond

WRENN ID
hushed-jade-mallow
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Ribble Valley
Constituency
Ribble Valley MP: Maya Ellis (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
29 December 1952
Type
Pond and retaining wall
Address
Retaining Wall and Statues and Observatory Pond, Stonyhurst, Aighton, Bailey and Chaigley
OS grid reference
SD 691 388
Coordinates
53.84535, -2.47047
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The retaining wall and statues at Observatory Pond date from around 1700, with later alterations. The structure features a low circular retaining wall topped with sandstone coping and includes five statues. In the center stands a lead statue of Regulus on a stone base. On the south side, there is a sandstone pedestal with a moulded plinth and cornice that supports a sandstone sundial plate with incised markings and a brass gnomon. To the west, a similar pedestal holds a finial and ball, while to the east, there is a similar pedestal with a slightly different design. To the north, a polygonal sundial with multiple gnomons indicates the time in various parts of the world, also set on a square-section pedestal.

Local climate

Retaining Wall and Statues and Observatory Pond sits in one of the wettest parts of the UK, with an average of 1,280 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 94% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 90% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 46 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 87% of listed buildings. Of these, 24 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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