Queen Anne's Obelisk, Off Rockley Lane, Wentworth Castle, South Yorkshire

Obelisk, dated 1734. Likely to be executed from a design by James Gibbs, constructed by the Bower family (Joseph Bower), estate masons for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford. Sandstone ashlar.

DESCRIPTION The obelisk is constructed of sandstone ashlar blocks. It has a two-step plinth and a deep, square die with a projecting band above which the sturdy obelisk rises with a pyramidal cap. An inscription on the E side of the obelisk (facing towards the road) reads:

‘To the PIOUS / GLORIOUS (both lines damaged by stone scaling) / and immortal memory of / Queen ANNE / this (word damaged by stone scaling) Obelisk was erected / by (word damaged by stone scaling) her faithfull Minister / Thomas (name damaged by stone scaling) WENTWORTH Earl of STRAFFORD / Viscount WENTWORTH of WENTWORTH / WOODHOUSE, and of STAINBROUGH, / Baron of RABY, NEWMARCH and OVERSLEY, / and Knight of the (two words damaged by stone scaling) most noble order of the Garter ‘1734’

An inscription on the S side of the obelisk reads:

‘Which said EARL / at the death of that most / Excellent PRINCESS / Was one of the seven appointed by act / of PARLIAMENT to be REGENTS of the / KINGDOME during (two words damaged by stone scaling) the absence of the / SUCCESSOR as (two words damaged by stone scaling) first Lord of the admiral- / ty of great BRITAIN (two words damaged by stone scaling) and IRELAND, was / likewise Lieu: (two words damaged by stone scaling) General of all her Majesty’s / Forces’ Colonel of the first and Royal Regt / of Dragoons was of the Cabinet and Privy / Councel Ambassador Extraordinary to the / States’ General and likewise Plenipotentiary / for the Congress and peace of UTRECHT.’

There are 16 low, octagonal bollards set in a circle around the base of the obelisk, one now (2016) displaced and one broken.