Building record 0420802011 - LORD COBHAM'S COLUMN, Stowe Landscape Gardens

Detailed description (B4).
Brief description in c.1862 (B5) and in early 20th century (B6).
Description & location plan (B7).
Grade I. C1740 tall stone fluted column carrying open belvedere surmounted by urn replacing statue destroyed by lightning. Attributed traditionally to Gibbs, but known to have been substantially designed by Capability Brown. Blocks at base added by Valdre (B14).
In preparation for restoration work, a topographic and geophysical survey was undertaken in by the National Trust in 1999, along with the excavation of four trenches to establish the nature of the historic surfaces and the condition of the foundations to the structure. The deposits around the plinth were in good condition, but the installation of a electricity cable in the 1920s was found to have caused heavy disturbance. The foundations reflect three phases - 1747, 1791 and 1843. In 1747, a stepped foundation of limestone blocks was constructed, each step being 0.5m in height and 0.5m wide. They reached 2.5m below ground. In 1791 a new plinth was designed and a rubble-stone wall built on top of the limestone step. In 1843, brick repairs were carried out. Within the topsoil, fragments dislodged during the lightening strike in 1957 were found, including moulded stones, fragments of the statue, iron window frames, glazing from the cupola and iron clamps. A deep yellow matrix with white gravel was found to the north of the building representing the original path.. In the 19th century, a larger gravel path was laid covering the buried ha ha. Approximately 5m E of the column, the ashlar faced wall of the ha ha survives to a height of 1.7m and buried 0.6m below ground. The process of back-filling the ha ha had caused severe disturbance to the deposits E of the monument (B18).
The National Trust Survey of Stowe undertaken in 1989 noted that the original lions and statues were destroyed by lighting in 1957 (B19).