An 80-foot obelisk by William Burn rises from farmland as a conspicuous memorial to the 11th Lord Blantyre.
Quick facts
- Date
- Circa 1825
- Architect / designer
- William Burn
- Type
- Tall stone memorial obelisk
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB10889)
- OS grid reference
- NS 44106 71997
Architecture and continuing use
The monument uses the elemental form of a tall stone obelisk on a square base. Its height and isolated field position create the effect: a severe vertical landmark rather than an elaborate sculptural memorial.
Its story
The obelisk was erected around 1825 to commemorate Robert Walter Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre, patron of major estate works including the new parish church and Erskine House. William Burn supplied the design.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a commanding designed-landscape monument linked to the family responsible for reshaping the Erskine and Bishopton estates.
What to notice
- Sharp taper from square base to narrow summit.
- Deliberately isolated position in open farmland.
- Long sightlines toward other Blantyre estate sites.
Reading the surroundings
The monument stands in private working farmland and the national record describes it as inaccessible. Do not cross fields, crops, fences or livestock areas; view only from lawful public space.
Timeline
- Circa 1825 William Burn designed the obelisk for the 11th Lord Blantyre.
- 1830 Lord Blantyre died before the completion of nearby Erskine House.
- 1980 The memorial entered the statutory list.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The designation supplies an approximate erection date and no evidence of lawful direct public access.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Blantyre Monument, LB10889 — Current designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB10889 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
Location
OS grid reference NS 44106 71997 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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