The Obelisk is a Grade I listed building in the Shropshire local planning authority area, England. First listed on 28 October 1960. Column.

The Obelisk

WRENN ID
ancient-pedestal-heath
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
Shropshire
Constituency
The Wrekin MP: Mark Pritchard (Con)
Country
England
Date first listed
28 October 1960
Type
Column
Address
The Obelisk, Hawkstone Park, Weston-Under-Redcastle
OS grid reference
SJ 579 292
Coordinates
52.85885, -2.62665
Source
Historic England listing

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

Description

The Obelisk is a Grade I listed column built in 1795 for Sir Richard Hill, located in Hawkstone Park, Weston-under-Redcastle. It is constructed of red sandstone ashlar, with grey sandstone ashlar at the top. The tall circular column stands on a stepped plinth with a moulded capping at the top, which supports a square ledge that was formerly railed. The column features four round windows on its sides, a moulded capping, and the remains of a statue at the top. There is a square-headed doorway on the west side of the plinth and narrow rectangular slit openings in the column.

Inside, there is a spiral staircase with 149 steps. The Obelisk was erected to commemorate Sir Rowland Hill, the first Protestant Lord Mayor of London. Originally, it was topped with a statue of the mayor, sculpted by John Nelson of Shrewsbury, which was destroyed during a storm in the late 1930s. It also once had a plaque with a long inscription, likely located in a rectangular recess on the south side of the plinth. The Obelisk has been illuminated on several occasions, including when news of Nelson's victory on the Nile was received. It offers extensive views over Hawkstone Park and the surrounding area.

Local climate

The Obelisk receives an average of 780 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 61% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 89% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 42 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 80% of listed buildings. Of these, 22 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.

More on this building

Sign in or create a free account to unlock:

  • No EPC on record for this property
  • No sale records on file
  • No related consent applications matched
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Create free account

Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.

Similar buildings

The closest matches to this building from all 493,000 UK listed buildings, by architecture, period and materials.

Nearby listed buildings

  1. The White Tower Grade II 186 m
  2. The Menagerie Grade II 397 m
  3. Rake Park Lodge Grade II 461 m
  4. Red Castle Grade II 705 m
  5. The Lion's Den at Ngr Sj 57213 29455 Grade II 727 m
  6. Hawkstone Hall Grade I 727 m
  7. Grotto and Arches on Grotto Hill Grade II 771 m
  8. Tunnel on Drive to Hawkstone Hall Grade II 786 m
  9. Ice House at Ngr Sj 57003 29070 Grade II 911 m
  10. Rangers Lodge Grade II 992 m