List Entry Summary
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: Obelisk
List Entry Number: 1315492
Location
Obelisk, Market Place
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County:
District: North Yorkshire
District Type: Unitary Authority
Parish: Ripon
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: I
Date first listed: 27-May-1949
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
UID: 330147
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 24 November 2023 to correct a typo in the description and to reformat the text to current standards
SE 3171
1/42
RIPON
MARKET PLACE (centre)
Obelisk
27.5.49
GV
I
1702. Architect: Nicholas Hawksmoor. Clerk of Works: Cornelius Varker. Masons: William Etty and William Cowling. Carver: Samuel Carpenter of York. Smith: John Hood. Ashlar, Plinth. Tall, simply moulded base, with a plaque misleadingly inscribed:
"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."
Obelisk surmounted by tall wrought iron weather-vane incorporating a representation or the Wakeman's Horn. Eighty feet high. Built by John Aislabie of Studley Royal. William Aislabie's contribution in 1781 must have been to repair it. He may also have removed the wrought iron railings surrounding it, and replaced them with four smaller obelisks at the corners, which have also been removed since.
The earliest surviving free-standing monumental obelisk in Great Britain.
Listing NGR: SE3121671270
Selected Sources
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details
Map
National Grid Reference: SE 31216 71270
The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1315492.pdf - Please be aware that it may take a few minutes for the download to complete.
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This copy shows the entry on 21-May-2024 at 11:23:10.
