Monument record 0420802043 - Captain Cook's Monument, Alder River, Stowe Landscape Gardens

Brief description of Cook's monument; detailed description of the Gosfield altar (B4).
Brief description in c.1862 (B5).
Description & plan (B7).
The Cook Monument is part of the landscaping of the Elysian Fields and was believed to have been originally sited in 1798 on a Island in the Alder River, but was moved to the shore in 1842. It commemorates the explorer Captain James Cook who was killed on his third voyage on 14 February 1779. The monument consisted of a huge globe (now lost) on top of a stone pedestal with a carved bust and inscription in Latin. Accounts in the Huntingdon Library, California, give the date of its re-siting to the top of the drainage culvert between the River Alder and the Shell Bridge as 17-24th September 1842. In 1998 the monument was noted as having developed a significant lean and the decision was made to dismantle it and relocate it to its original position on the island. A geophysical survey was carried out of the north (Duck Island) and south (Fire Island) islands in the River Alder, and revealed areas of high resistance thought to be foundations. Further investigation on the North Island resulted in a small excavation trench (1m x 1m) which showed brick foundations, a scatter of loose bricks and gravel. The foundations are thought to be associated with the removal of the Gosfield altar and the wooden bridge also in around 1842 as part of the remodelling of this part of the garden. The report includes the recommendation to resite the monument on Fire Island and that the remains of the 20th century brick foundation inserted during repairs to the culvert be removed (B18).
In September 2000 a trench was cut east-west across Duck Island, 5.5m long x 0.6m wide and dug to a depth of 0.5m. A steel mooring peg was uncovered, and fragments of flat limestones and tiny flecks of brick were identified. Unfortunately no firm evidence for the original location of the Cook's Monument was revealed (B19).
Included in English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Registers. In 1999-2001 described as priority D: 'Slow decay; solution agreed but not yet implemented'. In 2002 described as priority F: 'Repair scheme in progress' (B37-39).