The (Peat) Memorial Obelisk is a Grade II listed building in the Cumberland local planning authority area, England. First listed on 26 April 2004. Memorial.

The (Peat) Memorial Obelisk

WRENN ID
buried-basalt-wren
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Cumberland
Constituency
Whitehaven and Workington MP: Josh MacAlister (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
26 April 2004
Type
Memorial
Address
The (Peat) Memorial Obelisk, Portland Square, Workington
OS grid reference
NY 006 285
Coordinates
54.64238, -3.5406
Source
Historic England listing

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

Description

The Peat Memorial Obelisk is a Grade II listed memorial located in Portland Square, Workington. Erected in 1881, this slender obelisk is made of polished Dalbeattie granite and rises from a tapered pedestal on a stepped base, reaching a total height of 23 feet, with the obelisk shaft itself measuring 13 feet. It is enclosed within a shallow railed area.

At the base of the monument, there is an inscription that reads: "ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION IN MEMORY OF ANTHONY PEAT, SURGEON, WHO, DURING A LIFE SPENT INCESSANT TOIL FOR THE RELIEF OF HUMAN SUFFERING, WON THE LOVE AND ESTEEM OF ALL CLASSES. DIED JUNE 4TH 1877 AGED 57 YEARS." Below this inscription is a quotation in Latin from St Matthew's Gospel, which translates to: "EVEN SO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN."

This prominent public monument is situated at the center of a formally-planned urban square and commemorates Dr. Anthony Peat, a notable 19th-century physician who was highly regarded by the community he served for over 30 years. The obelisk forms a group with Nos. 16 and 18 Portland Square and No. 2 Cavendish Street.

Local climate

The (Peat) Memorial Obelisk sits in one of the wettest parts of the UK, with an average of 1,540 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 99% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 99% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 21 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 78% of listed buildings. Of these, 9 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. United Club Grade II 17 m
  2. 15a, 17 and 19, Portland Square Grade II 29 m
  3. Green Dragon Hotel Grade II 35 m
  4. Lamp-Post Opposite Green Dragon Hotel Grade II 37 m
  5. 21, Portland Square Grade II 38 m
  6. Curwen and Co. Solicitors Grade II 48 m
  7. 10, Portland Street Grade II 50 m
  8. Workington Veterans Club Grade II 51 m
  9. 1, Christian Street Grade II 52 m
  10. 8, Portland Street Grade II 64 m