Chalfont St Giles: Captain Cook Monument

Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 22 May 2011

Tucked away in the grounds of The Vache is this monument to Captain James Cook (1728 - 1779) erected in his memory around 1780 by his friend Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser (1723 - 1796) who owned the estate. It consists of a 2 storey tower with a battlemented parapet, constructed of flint rubble with red brick dressings, with an open arcade with one round headed arch to each side. Inside the tower is a square stone pedestal inscribed at length with a eulogium of Captain Cook and carrying a globe. There is a stairway to the roof from inside the tower from which fine views of the estate of The Vache can be seen Image, Image and Image The tower is on a small mound completely surrounded by a moat. The tower is a Grade II Listed Building. Although the monument is in the private grounds of the estate there is a permissive footpath to the tower, accessed by walking up the main driveway to the house from the B4442 Vache Lane, then striking off to the left over a stile at a set of gates with a green sign. This footpath takes one through a wood around the west side of the main house of the estate. Please note that permission to use the footpath may be withdrawn at any time.

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