Obelisk

The obelisk in Ripon, located in the Market Place, was built in 1702 and is attributed to architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. The clerk of works was Cornelius Varker, with masons William Etty and William Cowling, and carver Samuel Carpenter of York. The smith was John Hood. The structure is made of ashlar and features a plinth with a tall, simply moulded base. There is a plaque on the obelisk that is misleadingly inscribed with the following text:

"MDCCLXXXI

ERECTED AT THE EXPENSE OF

WILLIAM AISLABIE ESQUIRE,

WHO REPRESENTED THIS BOROUGH

IN PARLIAMENT SIXTY YEARS.

THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND ASSISTANTS

OF RIPON ORDERED THIS INSCRIPTION,

MDCCLXXXV

THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK ROBINSON,

MAYOR."

The obelisk stands eighty feet high and is topped with a tall wrought iron weather-vane that incorporates a representation of the Wakeman's Horn. It was built by John Aislabie of Studley Royal, and William Aislabie's contribution in 1781 likely involved repairs. He may have also removed the wrought iron railings that once surrounded it and replaced them with four smaller obelisks at the corners, which have since been removed. This obelisk is the earliest surviving free-standing monumental obelisk in Great Britain.