Hoad Monument Ulverston:
High up on a hill as you are approaching Ulverston in Cumbria, is what at first glance appears to be a lighthouse.
Known locally as Hoad Monument this limestone tower is a memorial to Sir John Barrow.
Sir John Barrow was a locally born naval administrator and traveller.
It stands at 450 feet above the town and was modelled on the earlier Eddystone Lighthouse. It was built in 1850 at a cost of £1250.
It is constructed from Limestone blocks quarried from nearby Birkrigg Common.
Furthermore, the monument has 112 narrow steps leading to a lantern chamber, which has never had a functioning light.
In 2003, the monument was in need of major restoration work.
With the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the repairs were completed in March 2008.
The views from the top are breathtaking and far-reaching. You can look down on the market town of Ulverston and across Morecambe Bay or turn 180 degrees and see the mountains in the Lake District.
Under the ownership of Ulverston Town Council, it is run by volunteer Lighthouse keepers, who open it most Sundays from Easter – October from 1 – 5pm.
A flag is flown next to the tower on the days it is open, and, although there isn’t a charge for entry, a donation is always welcome.
For a lovely walk to the monument, you can park your car in Ford Park and follow one of the many paths, all heading upwards.
Some paths are much steeper than others.
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