Cowper's Alcove Plaque - Wood Lane, Weston Underwood, Buckinghamshire, UK - UK Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

This delightful folly is tucked away up a single track road leading towards Yardley Chase. Looking on the map you would think you couldn't drive here, but you can. It is a secretive location in the middle of nowhere.

The Alcove, as it is known, is one of the places William Cowper, the famous poet, used to visit around the Weston Estate and is where he was inspired to write his poetry. The folly was built by the Lord of the Manor of Weston House, a member of the Throckmorton family in 1753.

You can come up here and gaze across the open fields towards the distant town of Olney and reflect on life. There is adequate seating inside for you to do this sitting down.

On the wall is a plaque with the inscription below, taken from 'The Task':

'The summit gained. Behold the proud alcove
That crowns it! Yet not all pride secures
The grand retreat from injuries impress'd
By rural carvers, who with knives deface
The panels, leaving an obscure rude name,
In characters uncouth, and spelt amiss,
So strong the zeal t'immortalize himself
Beats in the breast of man, that ev'n a few
Few transient years, won from the abyss abhorr'd
And even to a clown. Now roves the eye;
And posted on this speculative height,
Exults in its command.
THE TASK
WILLIAM COWPER LIVED IN OLNEY AND WESTON UNDERWOOD
BETWEEN 1768 - 1795. MANY OF HIS WORKS INCLUDING THE TASK,
WERE WRITTEN DURING THIS TIME PROBABLY IN THE ALCOVE.

THE ALCOVE ERECTED BY THE THROCKMORTON FAMILY IN
1753 NOW FORMS PART OF THE BUCKS COUNTY COUNCIL
GREEN BELT ESTATE.'

Type of Historic Marker: Folly and Stone Plaque Historical Marker Issuing Authority: Buckinghamshire County Council Age/Event Date: 01/01/1753 Related Website: [Web Link] Give your Rating:

Visit Instructions:
Please submit your visiting log with a picture of the object and include some interesting information about your visit.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.