The Eastnor obelisk

The word "obelisk" is the Greek name given to the Egyptian "tekhenu", a tall, four-sided, tapering column with a pyramidal top, that was inscribed with writing commemorating significant events. Not only did the Greeks (and Romans) copy this architectural form, they took many Egyptian examples and placed them in their cities. This happened in later times too: Cleopatra's Needle in London is an example. The obelisk near Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, is 90 feet (27.4 metres) high and is placed on a hill to make it widely visible. It is the work of the architect, Sir Robert Smirke, and commemorates the death of the castle's then owner's son, Lt. Col. E. C. Cocks, at the siege of Burgos, Spain, in 1812.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Eastnor Castle

One look at the location of the castle in today's photograph, overlooked as it is by surrounding hills, tells you that it was not built with defence in mind: that therefore it was constructed during a long period of peace and, despite its towers, battlements, machicolations etc, is a romantic home rather than a defensive fortification. In fact, Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire is the work of the architect Sir Robert Smirke and was built in a Norman Revival style for Earl Somers from 1812 onwards.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10