It's the last day of summer in the northern hemisphere, and as the weather remains good I decide to make the most of it with a bike ride. Still undecided as to where exactly I wanted to ride to, I cross to Studland on the ferry and continue west. I eventually make the decision to visit Handfast Point: the beginning of the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast.
Once there I make a number of photographs of Old Harry Rock and surrounding area but continue on, riding the 2½ miles uphill along Ballard Down. I toy with the idea of descending into Swanage, but it's the obelisk that eventually gets my attention.
The last time I passed this structure was in June, which at the time was festooned with hill walkers and the like taking a break for refreshments, or just being photographed for posterity, but on a late summer's Monday afternoon I get the hills virtually to myself: just me and the cows. The obelisk once stood on Lombard Street, London, and served as a gas lamp standard until it was moved to its current location in 1892. This was to commemorate the new water supply to Swanage.
There is a plate attached to the base which reads as follows:
"The obelisk was dismantled in 1941 to avoid its being of assistance to enemy aircraft during the war.
It was re-erected by men of 129 (East Riding) field squadron Royal Engineers (volunteers), under the direction of Capt. R. Alton, R.E.
The lowest section was found cracked and was mounted beside the obelisk."
The inscription is dated 2nd July 1973 (Roman numerals).
70-200mm f/2.8 Apo Sigma lens. 1/640 second at f/9. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.
© 2009
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