Hoad Monument in Ulverston is shrouded in scaffolding as work starts on a £1m restoration project.

The pepperpot, as it is know locally due to it’s shape, towers above the town in South Cumbria and is an icon for miles around.

Hoad Monument, Ulverston

Built in 1850 from limestone it is in the shape of the former Eddystone lighthouse designed by Smeaton.

Built as a tribute to Sir John Barrow, who was born in Ulverston in 1764, it commemorates his naval achievements.

Sir John Barrow was an academic and naval administrator. He taught mathematics in Greenwich before travelling on a Government expedition to China in 1792.

He became fluent in many languages including Mandarin Chinese.

He became Second Secretary to the Admiralty from 1804 – 1845 and promoted British exploration of West Africa and the North Polar Region. Expeditions included those by Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross and Sir John Franklin.

He was the civil servant who exiled Napoleon to St Helena and also wrote the official report on the Mutiny on the Bounty published in 1831.

He was an important figure in British Naval History and has lent his name to both Barrow Point northern Alaska and Barrow Strait, Canada.

Leaky monument

The monument was closed in 2003 because of severe ingress of water.

The Heritage Lottery fund has awarded Ulverston Town Council  £891,000 towards the restoration  The total project cost is £1,120,000.

Chairman of the town council’s Monument Restoration Committee Cllr Colin Hodgson said; “I am absolutely delighted that our bid has been successful and look forward to carrying out the work and  re-opening of the monument.

Hoad monument as seen in 2006

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has supported the project development over the last three years, including Jayne Kendall Regeneration Manager for SLDC who prepared the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Friends of the Sir John Barrow Monument who have worked so hard and the people of Ulverston, South Lakeland and indeed around the world for their generosity in contributing time and funds.

I would also like to thank South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria County Council, Townlands Trust and Ulverston Market town initiative for their financial support.

I would like to emphasize that we still need to carry on raising funds as we are committed to the Heritage Lottery Fund to raise an additional £50,000 over the next two years.

This is over and above the sum of £44,000 raised so far by the Friends of the Monument and others.

Donations can be sent to Ulverston Town Council, Town Hall, Queen Street, Ulverston, LA12 7ES”

It is anticipated that the monument will re-open early in 2010.