THE ELIZABETH LANDMARK

A robust and long-lasting destination in rural Northumberland, telling the story of the Commonwealth and celebrating the reign of Queen Elizabeth II

The Elizabeth Landmark will be a contemporary landmark and cultural destination at Cold Law in Northumberland, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II, her service to the nation and her lifelong dedication to the Commonwealth.

Set within 60 hectares of wild Northumbrian landscape, the project is intended to create a lasting public place of cultural, educational and regional significance.

Gifted to the project by local patron Viscount Devonport, the site has been chosen for its distinctive landscape setting and historical resonance. The Elizabeth Landmark has been designed by artist Simon Hitchens as a site-specific sculpture that responds directly to the topography, heritage and atmosphere of Cold Law.

Hitchens’ sculpture is in response to an artist brief which required the landmark to:

  • be robust and long-lasting within the wild Northumbrian landscape

  • achieve the same topographical height as nearby Hepple Heugh and the Queen Victoria Cairn

  • use materials which echo the history of the site, such as iron ore, minerals or stone

  • relate to the local heritage of the innovative industrialists Lord Armstrong and Sir Charles Parsons

  • be an accessible, educational and inspiring destination

  • include a seating and viewing area

  • include elements of poetry and interpretation, with contributions from poets and writers across the Commonwealth.

The landmark will stand at 55 metres and has been specifically designed to be sited in this exact location on Cold Law, complementing the topographical height of nearby Hepple Heugh and the Queen Victoria Cairn.

It will be made of Corten weathering steel, giving a rich burnished finish that complements the shapes and colours of the landscape and ensures a graceful appearance from any approach.

The Elizabeth Landmark is heavily informed by the ancient history and industrial heritage of the location. Its silhouette references the cross-section of a steam turbine blade, reflecting the legacy of Sir Charles Parsons, while the use of weathering steel speaks to the industrial history associated with Lord Armstrong’s ironworks nearby.

The ‘sundial’ aspect of the landmark echoes archaeological stone artefacts found near the site, thought to have been constructed in the Bronze Age as astronomical markers of the Winter Solstice.

Visitors will experience The Elizabeth Landmark as part of a wider public landscape setting. Plans for the site include paths of local stone encircling the sculpture, standing stones marking the summer and winter solstices, the equinoxes and Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, and a hill-top seating area providing shelter, orientation and interpretation connected to the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II and the surrounding landscape. The walking trail and car park will be open to the public all day, every day.

Alongside its cultural and commemorative role, the project has also been developed with environmental and social sustainability in mind.

Its ambitions include the use of recycled steel, green concrete, circular materials and locally specific material recycling, alongside a biodiversity net positive approach and a focus on jobs, youth engagement and educational opportunities.

The Elizabeth Landmark brings together heritage, landscape, public art and commemoration in a unique Northumberland setting, with the ambition of creating a landmark of lasting significance for the region and beyond.

An artist’s impression of The Elizabeth Landmark