Somerset Monument, Hawkesbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monument to Lord Robert Edward Somerset |
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| Location | Hawkesbury Upton, Gloucestershire, England |
| Built | 1846 |
| Architect | Lewis Vulliamy |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Monument to Lord Robert Edward Somerset | |
| Designated | 10 November 1983 |
| Reference no. | 1320834 |
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The Somerset Monument is a tall stone tower in Hawkesbury Upton, Gloucestershire, England. It was built in 1846 to remember a very important person, Lord Robert Edward Somerset. This monument is a special historical building. It is listed as a Grade II* building, which means it is very important. It is also on the Heritage at Risk register, which means it needs some care and attention.
History of the Monument
Lord Robert Edward Somerset was a British soldier. He was known for fighting in big wars. These included the Peninsular War and the War of the Seventh Coalition. Later in his life, he became a politician. From 1830, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gloucestershire. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the government. He also served as an MP for Cirencester from 1834 to 1837.
The famous architect Lewis Vulliamy designed this monument. It was built by workers from the nearby Badminton House estate. This estate was the main home for the Dukes of Beaufort for many years.
Monument Architecture
The Somerset Monument is a stone tower. It stands about 100 feet (30 meters) tall. At the very top, there is a platform where you can look out. The tower gets a little narrower as it goes up. It has four flat sides, like a square pillar. On the south side, you can see the special family symbol of the Somerset family.
At the bottom of the tower, there is a small building called a lodge. There is also a beautiful garden around the base.
