Kingston Lacy obelisk

William John Bankes, the owner of Kingston Lacy two centuries ago, spent much of his life abroad because his pursuit of homosexual activities was considered too enthusiastic to be acceptable. You can still see the paintings and other treasures he sent back to beautify his beloved mansion, to which he could not return.

Among them was the Egyptian obelisk on the south lawn. Nine metres high, it was originally erected at Philae in Egypt. Its historical significance is that the hieroglyphics on it helped with the deciphering of ancient Egyptian writing.

It was the first Egyptian obelisk to arrive in England. It nearly didn’t make it: a pier collapsed under its weight and it had to be fished out of the River Nile. London’s Cleopatra’s Needle followed 50 years later.

Nearest postcode: BH21 4EQ
OS reference: ST977011
What3words: married.olive.contemplate
Admission charge. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy