Malcolm Monument

While having a tour of the borders and bagging the MacDiarmid Monument, you can imagine my joy when I realised there was an obelisk just 1km away up the hill. Leaving my glamorous assistant in the car, I had a quick jaunt up the hill to see what it was all about.

I discovered that this obelisk is called the Malcolm Monument and is in homage to a local chap called John Malcolm who lived in Langholm at the bottom of the hill.

Malcolm Monument stands on Whita Hill which is 355m high and then the obelisk itself is another 30m, so you can get a great view of it from miles around. From the top you can see Langholm, often called the "Muckle Toun" in Scots dialect and provides panoramic views across the surrounding Eskdale.

So this John Malcolm must have been a pretty impressive chap to have such a monument dominating the local landscape.

Born in Langholm in 1769, Sir John Malcolm rose from humble beginnings to become one of Britain's most accomplished naval officers during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He entered the Royal Navy at the tender age of 11, marking the beginning of a pretty illustrious maritime career.

He played a crucial role in numerous naval engagements during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. His tactical brilliance and leadership earned him rapid promotion through the ranks, eventually achieving the prestigious rank of Admiral.

Beyond his naval accomplishments, Malcolm served as a diplomat and administrator in India, where he made significant contributions to British-Indian relations. He also served as the Governor of Bombay from 1827 to 1830, with his deep understanding of Indian culture and history leading him to author several authoritative works on the subject, including "A History of Persia" and "Political History of India."

Now you might think his accomplishments were impressive, but the most startling fact I found out was that he was one of 17 children!!! And ten of these children went on to achieve significant success in various fields, with four of the sons being knighted. This remarkable family legacy earned them the nickname "The Four Knights of Eskdale."

This makes my 1982 Donkey Derby victory at Pontins pale into insignificance!

The monument was commissioned in 1835 (2 years after his death) through public subscription, demonstrating the high regard in which he was held by his contemporaries. The design and construction were entrusted to renowned Scottish architect William Burn, who chose the obelisk style popular in Victorian times.

Built from local sandstone, the monument was completed in 1835 at a cost of £1,100 - a tidy sum for the time.

But my joy was not over, as right next to the obelisk I found a trig point called Monument Hill.

If you fancy a visit to the John Malcolm obelisk, then ditch your car in the car park next to the MacDiarmid Monument. Then if you walk another 20 meters up the road you will see a wide track leading you all the way to the monument. You can see the obelisk from the car park, so you can't go wrong.

Around 1.25km from the car park and 97m of ascent. So maybe 15-20 mins at a leisurely stroll.

An of course we visited the Hugh MacDiarmid Memorial on the way back.