Martyrs Memorial Obelisk on Pavement in Front of Number 85 is a Grade II listed building in the Rochford local planning authority area, England. First listed on 14 October 1986. Memorial obelisk.

Martyrs Memorial Obelisk on Pavement in Front of Number 85

WRENN ID
sunken-cloister-heath
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Rochford
Constituency
Rayleigh and Wickford MP: Mr Mark Francois (Con)
Country
England
Date first listed
14 October 1986
Type
Memorial obelisk
Address
Martyrs Memorial Obelisk on Pavement in Front of Number 85, High Street, Rayleigh, SS6 7EJ
OS grid reference
TQ 805 906
Coordinates
51.586, 0.60547
Source
Historic England listing

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

Description

The Martyrs Memorial Obelisk, dated 1908, is located on the pavement in front of number 85 on Rayleigh High Street. This marble obelisk stands on a plastered double base with chamfered upper edges. The lower block features an ornate cast iron drinking fountain on its west face, which includes a semi-circular bowl, a pendant, a moulded head, and a lotus head fosset. The obelisk itself has a moulded marble base inscribed with "Thy word is truth" on the west face. The polished obelisk has rough centre panels, while the side panels contain inscriptions: "Erected 1908 by the Protestants of Rayleigh and District. The Noble army of Martyrs praise Thee," and details about Thomas Causton and John Ardley, who suffered for their faith in 1555, along with a commemoration of Robert Drakes and William Tyms, who died in a fire at Smithfield in 1556. The obelisk is situated between a pump and a horse trough, contributing to an important historical group in the former market place.

Local climate

Martyrs Memorial Obelisk on Pavement in Front of Number 85 receives an average of 740 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 75% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 57% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 13 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 88% of listed buildings. Of these, 7 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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Nearby listed buildings

  1. Town Pump on Pavement in Front of Number 83 Grade II 3 m
  2. Horse Trough and Drinking Fountain on Pavement in Front of Number 87 Grade II 4 m
  3. K6 Telephone Kiosk, High Street, Rayleigh Grade II 24 m
  4. 91, High Street Grade II 25 m
  5. The Crown Public House Grade II 29 m
  6. Francis House (Lloyds Bank) Grade II 38 m
  7. Spread Eagle Public House Grade II 38 m
  8. The Old White Horse Public House Grade II 140 m
  9. Kingsleigh House Grade II 212 m
  10. Holland and Barret Health Food Shop Grade II 229 m