Obelisk scaffolding has now been up for 15 years

1 day ago

Kirsten RobertsonWiltshire

News image — The base of Wiltshire's Lansdowne Monument is obstructed by hoarding and netting

Getty Images A tall stone obelisk on a grassy hill. There are wooden fences around the base of the structure and black nets sitting on the top of the fences to catch any falling stones. It is a blue-sky, cloudy day, with green fields far in the distance. — The base of Wiltshire's Lansdowne Monument is obstructed by hoarding and netting

It is a locally treasured monument that sits among sweeping chalk grassland hills – and can be seen from miles around.

But the Grade II listed Lansdowne Monument on Cherhill Downs, Wiltshire, has been partially obscured by hoarding and netting for 15 years while it awaits repairs.

Locals say they are fed up with the slow progress. Deb Bassett, who lives in nearby Calne, said: "People have just got disheartened and think 'what else we can do'?"

A spokesperson for the National Trust, which owns the monument and the land around it, said: "We intend to remove the netting and hoardings as soon as possible once repairs have been completed."

A wooden fence and a smaller metal fence surround the base of a large monument on grass — Hoarding was put up to protect the public from potential falling stones

The 38m-tall (125ft) obelisk was built in 1845 by Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, but has suffered weather damage.

The hoarding and netting were put in place to protect walkers from potential falling masonry.

Bassett is part of a wider team of locals who have been campaigning since 2018 for the obelisk to be restored.

She said: "I've lived in Wiltshire since 1992 and always walked up to the monument.

"It just started to grate on me that all you could see was this disgusting scaffolding... we want the job finished."

She added that she "hardly" walks up to the site any more because of the fencing.

Getty Images The obelisk seen at a distance, atop brown and green hills. Brown fields are in the foreground. — The obelisk sits on chalk grassland and an Iron Age hillfort

Glenis Ansell, a former mayor of Calne who lives nearby, said: "It's very disappointing that a national institution takes its responsibilities and promises so lightly."

However, Andrew Sadler-Smith, of Cherhill Parish Council, said he had experienced "very good" communication with the National Trust since he asked for an update in 2023.

He added: "From my point of view, the National Trust have now taken a considered and positive approach to restoring the Lansdowne Monument but clearly time will tell."

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The monument's location on an Iron Age hillfort, and in a site of special scientific interest, means it is difficult to carry out repair work.

The National Trust spokesperson said: "Feasibility work and research has given us a clearer understanding of the conservation repairs needed, and repair work began in 2024.

"Repairs undertaken in 2024 and 2025 are currently being evaluated to determine what best suits the challenging location and the monument itself.

"We plan to undertake the next phase of repair work in spring 2026."

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