Monument to William Broadfoot, West Enclosure is a Grade II listed building in the Islington local planning authority area, England. First listed on 21 February 2011. Monument.

Monument to William Broadfoot, West Enclosure

WRENN ID
ancient-arch-dawn
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Islington
Constituency
Islington South and Finsbury MP: Emily Thornberry (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
21 February 2011
Type
Monument
Address
Monument to William Broadfoot, West Enclosure, Bunhill Fields Burial Ground
OS grid reference
TQ 326 822
Coordinates
51.5235, -0.08988
Source
Historic England listing

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

Description

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.

Local climate

Monument to William Broadfoot, West Enclosure sits in one of the driest parts of the UK, with an average of 690 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 95% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 98% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 35 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 57% of listed buildings. Of these, 16 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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