Cenotaph, Ballyquin Road, Limavady, Co Londonderry

This is a stone obelisk erected in the 1840s, likely between 1840 and 1859, to commemorate Henry Barre Beresford, who served as an agent for the Marquis of Waterford in County Londonderry. It is a relatively rare building type and possesses local historical significance as a symbol of the social order of that period. The monument sits on a low hill in gently rolling farmland, centrally positioned on two steps atop a classical pedestal with a simple plinth. It is visible from a long distance despite its unconventional location near taller mountains.

The obelisk itself is true to classical prototypes, characterized by simple proportions and ornamentation. The structure is built of closely fitting ashlar sandstone, with sand cement rendering up to the cornice of the pedestal. The south face features a slate plaque commemorating Henry Barre Beresford’s virtues and talents, while a plaque on the west face details his birth in Walworth House in 1840 and death in London in 1837. The east and north faces show exposed ashlar, suggesting that plaques may have once been present. The monument is currently in a state of neglect, with vegetation growing in cracks and render loss. A field boundary borders the eastern side.