A roadside pillar marking the spot where Lady Anne Clifford said a final goodbye to her mother in 1616
Access unclearthe way to it is shut for the A66 roadworks until 2030
In 1656, Lady Anne Clifford put up this pillar at the gates of Brougham Castle, on the spot where she and her mother, Margaret, met for the final time in 1616; Margaret died soon afterwards. The octagonal stone shaft rises about 4.3 metres, topped by a cube with sundials cut into three of its faces and, facing the road, brightly coloured heraldic shields of the Clifford family. Lady Anne asked that money be handed to poor parishioners every year on the anniversary of that parting, a custom still marked by a flat stone laid nearby for the alms. The pillar is currently closed to visitors for nearby roadworks and is not expected to reopen until 2030 — check English Heritage’s page before planning a visit.
