Monument To William Broadfoot, West Enclosure

The monument is a late 19th-century obelisk dedicated to William Broadfoot, located within the west enclosure of Bunhill Fields Burial Ground. Constructed from granite, it comprises a tall obelisk with a pyramidal top, set upon a square pedestal with raised panels that rests on a stepped plinth. An inscription on the obelisk's shaft reads "Revd William Broadfoot / Apostle of the Orkneys," while another inscription on the pedestal details his later career and commemorates his wife, Helen.

William Broadfoot (1775-1837) was originally from West Yorkshire, and served as minister at the United Secession Church in Kirkwall, Orkney, between 1798 and 1817. During his time in Orkney, he met and married Mary Sutherland, and their son, George Broadfoot, later became a distinguished officer in the East India Company. After returning from the north, Broadfoot became minister at Oxendon Presbyterian Chapel in London and Professor of Theology at Chesthunt College, Hertfordshire. The monument was renewed in the late 19th century, reflecting his prominent reputation at the time.

Bunhill Fields Burial Ground was first enclosed in 1665 and became London's principal Nonconformist cemetery. It was closed for burials in 1853 and later landscaped. The monument is designated at Grade II for its connection to a significant Free Presbyterian missionary, its imposing granite construction reflecting late 19th-century commemorative practices, and its group value within the Grade I registered Bunhill Fields Burial Ground, particularly within the west enclosure and as a landmark at the site's western entry.