Ashton Memorial
{{Short description|Monument in Lancaster, Lancashire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Ashton Memorial
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| image = The Ashton Memorial in Lancaster (12311695365).jpg
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| caption = The memorial atop Williamson Park
| map_type = United Kingdom Lancaster
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location within Lancaster
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| building_type = Folly
| architectural_style = Edwardian Baroque
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| material = Portland stone
| cost = Over £80,000
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| owner = Lancaster City Council
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| location = Williamson Park
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| location_town = Lancaster, Lancashire
| location_country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|54.04526|-2.78227|display=inline,title}}
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date = 1907
| completion_date = 1909
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| height = About {{convert|150|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}
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| architect = John Belcher
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| designation1 = Grade I Listed Building
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date = 22 December 1953
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1288429|short=y|postscript=none}}
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| website = {{URL|1=http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/williamson-park/ashton-memorial|2=lancaster.gov.uk/ashton-memorial}}
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The Ashton Memorial is a folly in Williamson Park, Lancaster, Lancashire, England, built between 1907 and 1909 by the millionaire industrialist Lord Ashton in memory of his second wife, Jessy, at a cost of £87,000page 412, The Buildings of England Lancashire: North, Clare Hartwell & Nikolaus Pevsner, 2009, Yale University Press (equivalent to £{{Formatprice|{{Inflation|UK|80000|1909|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-5}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}
Description
At around 150 feet (50 m) tall, it dominates the Lancaster skyline and is visible for many miles around, and has views of the surrounding area including Morecambe Bay. The building is in the Edwardian Baroque style and was designed by John Belcher. It has been described as "England's grandest folly" and the "Taj Mahal of the North".Sparks (2003), p 36. The dome is externally of copper, the main stone used is Portland stone; however, the steps are of hard-wearing granite from Cornwall.
The external stonework is hung on a steel frame as found in modern buildings and only forms a weatherproof covering without being loadbearing. In recent times this steelwork has caused problems for the conservation of the building. Externally around the dome are sculptures representing "Commerce", "Science", "Industry" and "Art" by Herbert Hampton, who was also responsible for the design of the Queen Victoria Memorial, Lancaster commissioned by James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton the previous year. The interior of the dome has allegorical paintings of "Commerce", "Art" and "History" by George Murray. The floor is of white, black and red marble.
Today, the memorial serves as an exhibition space on the upper floor and a venue for concerts and weddings.
The Ashton Memorial stands coincidentally close to the mathematical centre point of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, excluding the Isle of Man. See Centre points of the United Kingdom.
Gallery
File:Ashton Memorial top, Lancaster.JPG|The Ashton Memorial close up
File:Lancaster rooftops.JPG|The Ashton Memorial seen from Lancaster city centre, with the spire of Lancaster Cathedral
File:Ashton Memorial - whole building with stairs.jpg|The entrance to the memorial
File:Inside the Ashton Memorial.jpg|An interior view of the Ashton Memorial
File:The Ashton Memorial - side view.jpg|The Ashton Memorial on top of Williamson Park, about {{convert|150|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} tall and completed in 1909
File:The Dome - geograph.org.uk - 263612.jpg|The Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park, Lancaster can be seen from the M6 motorway, Black Combe in the Lake District and from many miles out in the Irish Sea on days of good visibility.
File:Ashton Memorial.jpg|A view from the main entrance to Ashton Memorial
File:Chandelier-IMG 0809.jpg|Ceiling of ground floor room
File:Entrance to the Ashton Memorial March 2022.jpg|Photo of the entrance to the Ashton Memorial taken in March 2022
{{wide image|Long mountain chain.JPG|2554px|View from the observation deck}}
See also
{{portal|Lancashire}}
References
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
- {{citation |last=Sparks |first=Jon |title=Lancashire Cycleway |year=2003 |publisher=Cicerone Press |isbn=978-1-85284-384-7}}
External links
{{commons category|Ashton Memorial}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120429013526/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/williamson-park/ The Ashton Memorial at Williamson Park]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111221221014/http://www.virtual-lancaster.net/visitors/v-tour/williamson_park.htm Virtual tour] at virtual-lancaster.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120614114244/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/williamson-park/ashton-memorial/ Ashton Memorial] Lancaster City Council
- [http://www.vrlancaster.co.uk/lancaster-virtual-tour/source/ashton-memorial.html Virtual tour] at VRlancaster.
{{City of Lancaster buildings}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Edwardian architecture in the United Kingdom
Category:Monuments and memorials in Lancashire
Category:Buildings and structures in Lancaster, Lancashire
Category:Tourist attractions in Lancaster, Lancashire
Category:Folly buildings in England
Category:Domes in the United Kingdom
Category:Baroque Revival architecture in the United Kingdom