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Prince Albert Memorial

Client: Swanage Town Council

Project length: 4-5 months

Project location: Swanage

Contract value: £160,000

Built in 1862, the Albert memorial was installed between Swanage High Street and Court Hill marking the entrance to the town. In 1971 it was dismantled and removed to accommodate a new housing development.

The obelisk is believed to be the first of it’s kind in the UK. It’s history reveals that the top part had been twisted out of shape by ‘the great blizzard’ of 1975. Between 1925–1931, 13 sections were removed. For more than 50 years the Purbeck Stone monument lay in a local quarry. 

In 2021 it was relocated to Prince Albert Gardens close to Swanage pier and received a much needed restoration. The base and lower half of the obelisk had been saved but the rest required replacing. Stress UK’s Heritage Division commissioned local stonemasons and craftsmen for the project.

  • Assistance in the rebuilding of the monument
  • Installation of stainless shaft anchoring and new concrete base plinth
  • Foundations for curved twin walls
  • Construction of block walls with Purbeck stone facing
  • Retreatment of hardcore for paths
  • DDB resin bound pathway.

Simon Collis

Stress UK,
Heritage Engineering Division

I’ve absolutely loved working on this – I’ve worked on lots of projects like the QE2 Bridge across the Thames and on the London Underground but to be able to work on this, less than a mile from my own home has been brilliant.

We’ve worked with the best quality of materials and a fantastic team – Ed Cross, along with Mike Sloggett and Bob Foster have been great. I think it’s fair to say that it’s one of the best projects I’ve ever worked on – definitely one for the CV!

I’m also proud that it is a proper Swanage job, using all the local trades including of course the stonemasons