Comments on: Pelham’s Pillar, Cabourne, Lincolnshire

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:08:11 +0000

In reply to Steffie. Thanks Steffie. I have very happy memories of that visit many years ago. It was fun to revisit the history for this post and great to explore not only Prince Albert’s visit, but to find the Queen’s poignant diary entry. It was also a wonderful coincidence that Mike made that film at almost exactly the same time that I peered through woodland and wished I could get a closer view of the column!

By: Steffie

Steffie — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:01:50 +0000

The best sleuth in the business ! Did not know off Prince Albert’s visit – thank you for such valuable snippets of Brocklesby history. I loved the aerial film but searched in vain for a glimpse of the Mausoleum … also remember meeting you and other Folly Fellowship members for the first time at Brocklesby all those moons ago… such a treat exploring together!

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 11:56:54 +0000

In reply to TOM GARDNER. Hello Tom. A studio in a miniature Arc de Triomphe sounds wonderful. Thanks for the kind words and I intend to ‘carry on’ for the foreseeable future.

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 11:55:07 +0000

In reply to Nigel Searle. Good morning Nigel. Thanks for reminding me about the monument on the Isle of Wight. It is a very different location to the Lincolnshire monument, but both a beautifully placed.

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 11:52:24 +0000

In reply to Georgina Craufurd. Hello Georgina. It’s always a pleasure to find a pair of the lions guarding the entrance to a monument. I shall look out for a miniature pair. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

By: TOM GARDNER

TOM GARDNER — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:15:43 +0000

TOM (NYC)
I MAY HAVE MENTIONED, WHEN IN MY 20’s (c. 1970’s) I WAS A BUTLER, HERE IN THE STATES. ONE OF MY ‘LADIES’ WAS: NEE – FLORA WHITNEY; DAUGHTER OF THE ARTIST, GERTRUDE VANDERBILT WHITNEY, FOUNDER OF THE WHITNEY MUSEUM, NYC.
BUILT ON THE COUNTRY ESTATE, OUT ON LONG ISLAND (OLD WESTBURY), HER
MOTHER’S ‘STUDIO’ WAS A CLOSE VERSION OF: THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE.
THE MAIN RESIDENCE (MANSION) WAS DEMOLISHED YEARS AGO, AND SADLY,
THE ‘STUDIO’ WHILE STILL STANDING, IS IN NEED OF RESTORATION.
OUR NUMBER OF FOLLIES, IN COMPARISON TO YOURS IS VERY SMALL; ERGO –
THE FEW THAT EXIST ARE IN CONSTANT DANGER OF VANISHING.
YOUR EFFORTS ARE TRULY NOBEL AND ALLOW US TO REALISE THE NEED TO
SAVE THOSE THAT ARE LEFT.
……. DO! CARRY ON!

TOM

By: Nigel Searle

Nigel Searle — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:37:16 +0000

There is a monument to the Charles Anderson Pelham (1781-1846), 1st Earl of Yarborough high on Culver Down near Bembridge, Isle of Wight ( See Historic England listing https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1034326
)

By: Georgina Craufurd

Georgina Craufurd — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:19:38 +0000

The lions are based on Canova’s pair of lions in St Peters’ Rome, on the tomb of Clement XIII. They have been much copied. We even have a small pair in marble some 25 cm long… Georgina

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 20:05:18 +0000

In reply to Judy Rossiter. Hello Judy. I remember it as quite a climb so I agree, it’s good to have the film showing the views. It is always great to hear from people with their memories. They add so much to the social history of follies and landscape ornaments.

By: Judy Rossiter

Judy Rossiter — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 19:27:22 +0000

How nice to have inspired so many happy memories amongst your readers.
Thanks for putting in the link to the drone footage, so glad I didn’t have to climb the steps to see that wonderfully unspoilt view !