Memorial To The 15Th Earl Of Shrewsbury

The Memorial to the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury is a Grade II* listed structure, built around 1830. It is made of ashlar and cast iron. The memorial features a square rusticated pedestal with a stepped plinth and an oversailing cap. At the top, there is a circular base inscribed with the words "HE MADE THE DESERT SMILE." Surrounding this base are six Corinthian columns that define a cylindrical space, which contains a pedestalled bust of the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury. This space is topped with an entablature and an oversailing dome adorned with fish-scale decoration, scrolls, and a central foliated crest. The design of the memorial is inspired by the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, dating back to 334 B.C. This memorial is an important part of the garden layout at Alton Towers, which is registered as Grade I on the HBMC Gardens Register.