Keppel's Column
The Eastern Door
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It was built to celebrate the acquittal of Admiral Keppel, a friend and Whig supporter of Rockingham, who had been court-martialled for cowardice against the French in the Battle of Ushant, 1778.
The column stands unprotected in a field with easy public access from Admiral's Crest, just off the A629, a little under 3 miles from the centre of Rotherham. It has suffered extensive damage from mining subsidence and, in spite of some repair work carried out earlier this century, is considered too dangerous for public entry.
At an elevation of 460 feet, the base of the column is some 60 feet lower than that of Hoober Stand across the valley to the north-east. It rises to a height of 115 feet and stands on a plain pedestal, 23 feet square and 7 feet 6 inches high, with a doorway in the eastern face. From there, 217 steps ascend to a viewing platform, a little over 16 feet by 17 feet in size, with a 4 foot high wrought iron fence around its edge. The stairwell is lighted by 21 small windows and there is a small room with seats built in to the column about a third of the way up at its widest point. The outer wall of the column is of small building quality stone identical to that used in the construction of local cottages and garden walls. The internal masonry, which takes most of the column's weight, is of brickwork.
Keppel's Column is not so prominent a landmark across the area as Hoober Stand but it does dominate the southern skyline from within Wentworth Park. One of the best views is from the charming little village of Scholes just half a mile to the north of the column on the road to the Needle's Eye.
Photographs of Keppel's Column
1. The column seen from the village of Scholes.
2. The full column from the south.
3. The dire state of the viewing platform.
4. Looking up from the south-west.
5. Keppel's Column towering over Admiral's Crest.
6. The doorway on the eastern side of the base.
7. Detail of damage on the eastern side.
8. The brick heart and spiral staircase.
9. In the shadow of the column.
Further information about the Needle's Eye and the beautiful village of Wentworth is available at Wentworth Village: Keppel's Column
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Ink Amera |
(C) David 6/9/2007 |
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