Admiral Rodney's Pillar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Admiral Rodney's Pillar |
|
|---|---|
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1718310.jpg)
Rodney's Pillar on Breidden Hill
|
|
| Type | Monument |
| Location | Powys, Wales |
| OS grid reference | SJ 2951 1441 |
| Built | 1781–82 |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name: Admiral Rodney's Pillar | |
| Designated | 26 October 1953 |
| Reference no. | 7667 |
| Community | Bausley with Criggion |
| Principal area | Powys |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Admiral Rodney's Pillar (in Welsh: Pilar Rodney) is a tall monument found on Breidden Hill in Powys, Wales. It was built a long time ago, between 1781 and 1782. The pillar was created to remember the amazing sea victories of Sir George Brydges Rodney. He was a famous naval leader during the American War of Independence.
The pillar is made from local stone and stands about 54 feet (16.5 meters) high. Its top used to have a golden ball, but after a lightning strike in 1847, it was replaced with a drum and a finial (a decorative top). A special stone plaque on the pillar says that the "Gentlemen of Montgomeryshire" built it. They wanted to celebrate Admiral Rodney's successes, including a big sea battle called the Battle of the Saints. This pillar is easy to spot from far away in the Upper Severn Valley. It is also a very important historical building, known as a Grade II* listed building.
There used to be a message written in Welsh on the pillar. By 1890, this message had disappeared. It meant something like: "RODNEY'S PILLAR. The highest pillar will fall, the strongest towers will decay: but the fame of Sir George Brydges Rodney shall increase continually, and his good name shall never be forgotten."
Keeping the Pillar Safe
In recent years, people noticed that the monument needed some repair work. By late 2019, cracks had appeared in the pillar. Also, a copper lightning rod that was on top had been stolen. Experts estimated that it would cost about £160,000 to fix the monument.
A special group called 'Save Rodney's Pillar' was created. This charity group works to raise money to help restore the monument. They believe that up to £200,000 is needed to fully repair and protect this important historical site for the future.
