Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown drew up a plan for the landscape at Whitley Beaumont which was implemented by Richard Beaumont in the 1780s. The Monument was probably built as an eye-catcher from a new carriage drive, and existed by 1822 when it is shown on an estate map, but not named. It is marked as ‘The Monument’ on the 1850s Ordnance Survey map but no-one remembers why it was given this name, or what it might be a monument to.
Built of fragments of masonry, probably rescued from a remodelling of the hall, and embellished with battered statuary, this is a fabulous folly and was surely designed by the family themselves. It’s unlikely an eminent architect would wish to take the credit.
The monument fell into disrepair during the two world wars when the park was used for army training and mined for coal as part of the war effort. Today the fragments survive as a forlorn and overgrown pile of stones.
The park at Whitley Beaumont is strictly private.
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Michael Cousins says:
This site becomes more impressive every time I visit (which I am told is not enough) – just locating these images from archives sources is an achievement in itself (and knowing of their existence). Next comments reads like a school report: “outstanding work, keep it up”.
Editor says:
Very pleased you have dragged yourself away from your own research to have a look!
Paul:-) says:
Thankyou for sharing this.
I grew up in the area and have ‘visited’ Black Dick’s Temple on many an occasion but I never knew about this. Thanks also for the history of the hall. All that I was ever told about the area was in relation to Black Dick’s Temple and that it was the Summerhouse of Whitley Hall. I never knew where Whitley Hall was. It’s certainly nowhere near the small village of Whitley (properly Whitley Lower).
You’re jogging my memory now. Nearby in Grange Moor there’s a road called Steeple Avenue. It’s not a church but it’s still there.
Editor says:
Good morning Paul. I’m delighted to have provided extra information to go with your memories of Whitley Hall. I do know the dumb steeple in Grange Moor (there’s something similar near Mirfield) but I haven’t researched it so it remains something of a mystery to me.