Obelisk
OBELISK, QUEEN SQUARE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1394569
- Date first listed:
- 12-Jun-1950
- List Entry Name:
- Obelisk
- Statutory Address:
- OBELISK, QUEEN SQUARE
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1394569
- Date first listed:
- 12-Jun-1950
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 15-Oct-2010
- List Entry Name:
- Obelisk
- Statutory Address 1:
- OBELISK, QUEEN SQUARE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- OBELISK, QUEEN SQUARE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Bath and North East Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- ST 74794 64993
Details
QUEEN SQUARE 656-1/40/1334 Obelisk 12/06/50
GV II*
Obelisk. 1738. By John Wood the Elder for Beau Nash. Limestone ashlar. Slender tapered square shaft, c1.8m square at base, and c18m high, devoid of any embellishment. Original inscription, drafted by Alexander Pope, has been recut, and reads: `IN MEMORY/OF HONOURS CONFERR'D/AND IN GRATITUDE/FOR BENEFITS BESTOWED/IN THIS CITY/BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS/ FREDERICK/PRINCE OF WALES/AND HIS/ROYAL CONSORT/IN THE YEAR MDCCXXXVIII/THIS OBELISK IS ERECTED/BY RICHARD NASH ESQ¿. Obelisk set to centre of Square, and intended by Wood to be centre-piece of a formal parterre layout, with axial gravel paths arranged on a Union Jack pattern. The Obelisk, on very substantial foundations 3m deep, originally stood within a basin of water, but is now dry, rising without a base directly out of the ground. It originally terminated in a point at height of c18m, but top damaged in gale in 1815, and recut to present flatter profile at height of c15m. Enrichments of carved lions and unicorns were originally proposed, but not carried out. The original dark marble inscription tablet was later replaced by brass one. HISTORY: This notable piece of axial Neo-Roman grandeur, which plays so important a part in articulating the space of the square, was built at overall cost of more than £80, including £3.15.0 for model. The dedication to the Prince of Wales can be seen as a conferral of approval on Wood's work at Bath from the highest of levels. It also shows an early use of Bath stone for monumental purposes. SOURCES: Ison W: The Georgian Buildings of Bath: London: 1948-: 129; Green M: The Eighteenth Century Architecture of Bath: Bath: 1904-: 63; Mowl T and Earnshaw B: John Wood Architect of Obsession: Bath: 1988-: 65-86.
Listing NGR: ST7479464993
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 509965
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 22-Jul-2026 at 21:19:35.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.