Monument record MDO7845 - Obelisk on Fir Hill, Moreton

A stone obelisk around 70 feet high topped with an urn, erected in 1785-6 in memory of James Frampton who died in 1784. It was designed by James Hamilton of Weymouth and commissioned by Captain John Houlton.

SY 806884. An obelisk of ashlar standing some 70 ft high on a base with moulded plinth and cornice, surmounted by an urn, was built 1785-6 in memory of James Frampton who died in 1784. (1)

SY 806884. Obelisk on Fir Hill. Scheduled. (3)

The obelisk measures 4.0 metres square at its defaced and crumbling base. (see ground photographs). Revised at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (4)

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 177 (Monograph). SDO148.

'(6) OBELISK (806884), of ashlar, designed by James Hamilton of Weymouth, was erected in 1785–6 by Captain John Houlton in memory of James Frampton, who died in 1784. The obelisk stands some 70 ft. high on a base with moulded plinth and cornice and is surmounted by an urn 9¾ ft. high. On two sides of the base were formerly marble tablets with commemorative inscriptions; these are now built into the walls of the Lychgate (2). (Gents'. Mag. 1787, pt. i, 49.)'

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 scale map, 1976 (Map). SDO17396.

(SY 80688848) Obelisk (NAT)

<3> Department of the Environment, 1978, Department of the Environment (IAM) Ancient Monuments of England (Vol 2), 83 (Monograph). SWX1687.

<4> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F1 NJA 07-JUL-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455350 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 4 2025 11:29AM