Keppel's Column facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keppel's Column |
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Keppel's Column
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| Type | Folly |
| Location | Wentworth |
| OS grid reference | SK 38941 94731 |
| Area | South Yorkshire |
| Built | 1773-1780 |
| Architect | John Carr |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Keppels Column | |
| Designated | 19 February 1986 |
| Reference no. | 1314632 |
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Keppel's Column is a tall tower, about 115 feet (35 meters) high. It stands between the villages of Wentworth and Kimberworth. You can find it in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. This column is a special type of building called a "folly." Follies are structures built mostly for decoration. Keppel's Column is one of several follies near Wentworth Woodhouse park. Other famous ones include Hoober Stand and Needle's Eye.
A Tower with a Story
This impressive column was built in the late 1700s. It was made to celebrate an important event. An admiral named Augustus Keppel had faced a special military trial. This trial is called a court-martial. He was accused of not doing his job well during a sea battle. This battle was called the Battle of Ushant.
Luckily, Admiral Keppel was found innocent. This is called an "acquittal." To celebrate his good name being cleared, the column was ordered.
Who Built It?
The idea for Keppel's Column came from Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. He was a very important person in the area. He asked a famous architect named John Carr to design it. The building work started in 1773. The column was finally finished in 1780.
At first, the plan was for a different kind of monument. It was going to be a base with a tall, pointed stone on top. But later, the design was changed. They decided to build the tall column you see today instead.
What Does It Look Like?
Keppel's Column is a very tall structure. It has a spiral staircase inside that goes all the way up. The column stands on a high hill. This hill is one of the tallest in the Rotherham area. It is over 480 feet (146 meters) above sea level. Only the hill where Hoober Stand is located is taller.
If you look closely, you might notice something interesting about the column's shape. It seems to bulge out a little in the middle. This was meant to be a special design trick. It was supposed to make the column look perfectly straight from far away. However, they ran out of money, so the column couldn't be built as tall as planned. This made the special design look a bit odd.
Visiting the Column
Sadly, Keppel's Column has been closed to visitors since the 1960s. It is not safe to go inside because it has become quite old and damaged. But you can still see the column up close. There is a public walking path that goes right by it. This path starts from a place called Admiral's Crest in Scholes.
