Local News · Calne
Restoration work progresses at iconic Lansdowne Monument
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Specialist teams are working to restore the historic Lansdowne Monument on Cherhill Down, marking a new chapter for the landmark after it spent over a decade hidden behind protective hoardings.
One of Wiltshire’s most recognisable landmarks is finally receiving much-needed attention as conservation experts begin an extensive restoration project at the Lansdowne Monument. The 38-metre-high stone obelisk, a prominent feature of the skyline at Cherhill Down near Calne, has been shrouded by hoardings for more than a decade to shield the public from falling debris.
The Grade II* listed structure, designed by Sir Charles Barry and erected in 1845 by the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, is now being carefully repaired. The project is led by conservation specialists Cliveden Conservation, who commissioned a Bristol-based firm, Shield Services Group, to manage the complex task of installing scaffolding around the historic obelisk.
The remote, exposed hilltop location presented significant logistical hurdles. The team faced steep and heavily rutted tracks that prevented the use of standard heavy transport vehicles. To overcome these challenges, the contractors collaborated with a local farmer to transport essential materials up the hill. Despite the arduous conditions and the site's vulnerability to the elements, the specialist team completed the substantial scaffolding installation in just 19 days.
Jamie Angell, scaffolding managing director at Shield Services Group, described the project as both challenging and rewarding. He noted that the team had to work with extreme care given the sensitive historic nature of the monument and its high-profile position in the Wiltshire landscape. The new scaffolding now provides a safe platform for restoration experts to access the stonework, which had long been inaccessible.
The monument remains a point of local pride and curiosity, often serving as a focal point for visitors to the Cherhill area. By facilitating this restoration, the project aims to safeguard the monument for future generations, finally allowing the historic structure to be viewed without its long-standing protective coverings.
Source: Wiltshire Times · View original