The Simeon Monument is a Grade II* listed building in the Reading local planning authority area, England. First listed on 22 March 1957. A C18 Monument. 4 related planning applications.
The Simeon Monument
- WRENN ID
- riven-pediment-cedar
- Grade
- II*
- Local Planning Authority
- Reading
- Constituency
- Reading Central MP: Matt Rodda (Lab)
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 22 March 1957
- Type
- Monument
- Address
- The Simeon Monument, Market Place, RG1 2DT
- OS grid reference
- SU 716 734
- Coordinates
- 51.45562, -0.96947
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
The Simeon Monument is a Grade II* listed structure designed by Sir John Soane and commissioned by Edward Simeon, installed in Market Place in 1804. The monument was restored in the 21st century and is made of Portland stone.
It features a fluted obelisk with chamfered sides and palmette tympana carved into the top. The striated cylinder is topped with a pineapple. The monument stands on a rusticated triangular base with lobed corners, each adorned with fasces in relief and topped with bracketed cast, wrought iron lamp overthrows and a lamp. Each face has moulded panels, and on the south side, there is a bronze tablet with the inscription: ERECTED / AND LIGHTED FOR EVER / AT THE EXPENSE OF / EDWARD SIMEON ESQ. / AS A MARK OF AFFECTION / TO HIS NATIVE TOWN / A.D. 1804. / LANCELOT AUSTWICK ESQ. / MAYOR.
Surrounding the monument are cast-iron railings featuring Fleur de Lys heads and heavy standards, all dating from around 1876. The maker's mark READING IRON WORKS is visible at the base.
Local climate
The Simeon Monument sits in a drier-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 730 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 80% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 73% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 34 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 53% of listed buildings. Of these, 14 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
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- No EPC on record for this property
- No sale records on file
- Related listed building consents — 4 applications
- 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
Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.
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