THE ELIZABETH LANDMARK
An overview
The idea
The vision for The Elizabeth Landmark began with Viscount and Viscountess Devonport, whose long-standing ambition was to create a lasting commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II in Northumberland. The project brings together landscape, public art, heritage and public access in a setting chosen for its topographical and historical significance.
The site at Cold Law, on the Ray Estate, was selected not only for its dramatic setting but also for its relationship to the wider landscape and the industrial and archaeological history of the area. The landmark has been shaped by that setting from the outset.
A major landmark for Northumberland, created to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II and her enduring relationship with the Commonwealth
The Elizabeth Landmark will be a major Northumbrian landscape sculpture, standing 55 metres high at Cold Law. Conceived as a permanent tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and the countries of the Commonwealth, the project is intended to become a significant cultural destination in the Border region and a lasting source of regional pride.
The Artist: Simon Hitchens
Click here to read more about the artist behind The Elizabeth Landmark.
The work of art
An open competition was held to find the artist for the project, and was won by sculptor Simon Hitchens. The brief was to create a contemporary landmark and cultural destination that would benefit the local community and economy while celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s service to the nation and her lifelong dedication to the Commonwealth.
Simon Hitchens’ response was a sculpture rooted in land and place. Designed in weathering steel, the landmark takes the form of a rising blade-like structure, as though a slice of the hillside itself has been lifted skyward. Its form draws on the engineering heritage of the region, particularly the legacy of Sir Charles Parsons and Lord Armstrong, while its sundial-like qualities echo Bronze Age astronomical markers found in the surrounding landscape.
The sculpture will have 96 lateral fins, one for each year of Queen Elizabeth II’s life, and will sit within a wider public landscape setting including paths of local stone, standing stones, and a hill-top seating area with interpretation connected to the site, the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth II.
What the project will create
The Elizabeth Landmark is intended to be more than a sculpture. It will create a new public destination in the Northumberland landscape, with a walking trail and car park open to the public all day, every day. The ambition is to create a place that combines commemoration, reflection, education and landscape experience, while contributing to the cultural identity of the region.
Alongside its cultural purpose, the project has been developed with environmental and social sustainability in mind, including the use of recycled steel, green concrete, circular materials, biodiversity net positive and a focus on jobs, youth engagement and educational opportunities.
Progress so far
The project has moved from concept and design into delivery. Works have already started on site, and the charity has attracted support and funding of more than £650,000 towards development costs. This has enabled the project to secure full planning permission and begin initial site works.
The project is supported by a team of specialists spanning art, engineering, planning, landscape, ecology and construction, working together to deliver a landmark designed specifically for this place.
The people behind The Elizabeth Landmark
The vision behind the project remains closely connected to Viscount Devonport and the Ray Estate, where land has been gifted to support the landmark.
The trustees and wider team bring together experience from public life, business, land management, culture and development, helping to carry the project from idea to reality.