Monument record MDO2030 - Hardy Monument, Portesham

The Hardy monument, a prominent landmark on the highest part of the Ridgeway, was built in 1844 in memory of Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy (flag-captain of the Victory of Trafalgar).

The monument, which was restored in 1908, is an octagonal tower of ashlar, some 70 ft high, with battered base and heavy cornice and parapet, containing a spiral staircase lit through small slits. <3>

<1> DOE (HRR), 1951, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Dorchester Rural District 1951, 49 (Scheduling record). SWX2329.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 61308760) Hardy Monument (NAT) (National Trust)

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 242 (Monograph). SDO149.

‘(3) Hardy Monument (613876), a prominent land-mark on the highest part of the Ridgeway, is of ashlar and was built in 1844 to the design of Arthur Dyke Troyte, Esq. (Hutchins II, 760), in memory of Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, who died in 1839. The foundation stone was laid on October 21st 1844, Henry Goddard of Bridport being the contractor (The Builder, II (1844), 553). The monument was restored in 1908. It is an octagonal tower, some 70 ft. high, with battered base and heavy cornice and parapet, containing a spiral staircase lit through small slits.’

<3.1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 759-60 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452507 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 22 2023 11:13AM