Davison’s Obelisk at Swarland Park
Robin Dower takes a close interest
Davison's Obelisk
© Tagishsimon from Wikipedia
Some years ago I worked with the Northumberland National Park Authority to restore the Davison Family Vault in the churchyard at Kirknewton. The Davisons were from Lanton and in the silence of the vault lay eight of the family from the late 18th and early 19th century including Alexander Davison (1750-1829) – a rather colourful character whose fortunes fluctuated wildly but who is now chiefly remembered as a close friend of Admiral Lord Nelson. Both men, one suspects, had a strong egocentric streak and each must have proved useful to the other. Davison was variously a merchant, ship owner and banker who made a fortune in equipping the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Nelson appointed him as his Prize Agent – disposing of enemy ships and cargoes (merchant as well as warship) seized during the long struggle with France. Davison must have prospered, for he bought Swarland Estate and in the front park is said to have planted clumps of trees representing the disposition of the French and British fleets at the Battle of the Nile.
Here later in 1807, two years after the death of the “ever to be lamented” hero at Trafalgar, Davison erected the obelisk which stands beside the old A1 just North of Felton. The inscription on the base has an interesting disclaimer:
NOT TO COMMEMORATE THE PUBLIC VIRTUES
AND HEROIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF
NELSON
WHICH IS THE DUTY OF ENGLAND
BUT TO THE MEMORY OF PRIVATE FRIENDSHIP
THIS ERECTION IS DEDICATED
ALEXANDER DAVISON
SWARLAND HALL
The obelisk stands 13 metres high amongst trees along the roadside and behind it was a large half-circle of cast iron railings set in a finely cut stone kerb. In 1995 a report on the condition of the monument and its setting was prepared for Felton, Newton on the Moor and Swarland Parish Councils who seized on the benefits to be gained by pressing for the restoration of the site. As the report recorded, this was largely covered with a thicket of brambles, nettles, elder and young trees. The railings had largely been broken down and the kerb forced out of line by the vigorous roots of trees and ivy. The site had become used for stopover relief and fly-tipping and was rather unsavoury.
For me it was a stroke of luck to be asked by the parish councils to have a second innings with the Davison connection. Our first task was to assess the extent of the damage. The erection of scaffolding allowed closer inspection of the higher courses of stone up to the tip where open joints certainly needed raking out and repointing with lime mortar, but the structure was generally tight-jointed and undisturbed. We found on the upper surface of the bold string course at the base of the tapering shaft a finely cut inscription invisible from the ground “THOS ROBSON MASON”. I haven’t discovered more about him yet, but he built well.
The main focus of the work was in clearing the thicket of vegetation round the site and the careful exposure of the railings and kerbs, before instructing specialist contractors Historic Building Services and metalworkers John Aynsley Ltd. to dismantle the ironwork, lift and rebed the kerb (including new stone to replace damaged or missing sections) and to fit extensive new panels of the cast-iron railings. The ground surface round the obelisk within the semi-circle was regraded and finished with Breamish gravel with hidden drainage while outside the railing a metre wide path of a darker gravel is intended to form a cordon against encroaching ivy and roots. The County Highway Engineer supported the creation of a short lay-by and an information panel by the access path gives some of the story of the monument.
The Parish Councils were rightly proud of the successful outcome of a ten-year campaign to see this conspicuous landmark restored. On the bi-centenary of its erection the obelisk was ‘re-opened’ by Charles Stirling the treasurer of the Nelson Society which had contributed significantly towards the cost. A reception was held afterwards at the Percy Wood Golf Club standing on the site of Swarland Hall from which Alexander Davison would have gazed with satisfaction on his personal tribute to his friend Nelson.
City and County
February 2008
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