Building record 1933/0/17 - Obelisk at junction of Thrapston Road and Irthlingborough Road

Obelisk. C.1789. Erected for Sir English Dolben by Sumpter of Irthlingborough

{1} Obelisk. C.1789. Erected for Sir English Dolben by Sumpter of Irthlingborough. Squared coursed limestone. Short obelisk on square plinth with plain cornice. Plain limestone tablet to each face. Probably erected as a direction pillar and to record the return to sanity of George III. (Finedon Otherwse Thingdon by J.H.L. Bailey, p.44).

{3} A solid sandstone pyramid, erected in 1790 as a sign post and to commemorate George III’s recovery from a bout of insanity in 1789.

{5} Small stone built pyramid 12 feet high. Sir English Dolben recorded in his diary 'This day I laid the first stone of the Finedon Obelisk, at the Cross Turnpikes, East Town End (Sumpter of Irthlingborough, Mason) as a Direction Pillar, and to record the many blessings of 1789" The structure is a small triangular monument.Film 1, photo 17,18

{6} Two undated photos, also photo dated 28.4.94;

{7} Photo dated 25th June 1996;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 2/32 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G04 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> Burman, A., 2004, County Tales: Crime and the Obelisk, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107483.

<4> Bailey J.L.H., 1975, Finedon Otherwise Thingdon: A History of Finedon, p.44 (unchecked) (Book). SNN105040.

<5> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Finedon (Photographs). SNN111732.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Finedon (Photographs). SNN111732.

Record last edited

May 28 2025 12:39PM