The obelisk locally called 'Brightling Needle' was built for 'Mad Jack Fuller' probably by Sir Robert Smirke who also built other structures on his estate. It was constructed in the early eighteen hundreds, probably to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 as the Fuller family had been supplying iron cannons to the Board of Ordnance and the Navy Board since the late 1500's.
The obelisk stands 65 feet (20 m) high. It is constructed of coursed stone, built in four sections with a string course above each section, implying it was built over a four year period.
The point where the obelisk was built is the highest in the area and is actually higher than the Observatory but doesn't look as though it is, especially from the Observatory. The hill on which it stands is 197 metres tall and is known as Brightling Down and this was where the warning beacons were lit in earlier times.
Other Reading
If you would like further details of Mad Jack, the Fullers or the Brightling area please click on the following links:
![Saxon Thegn](javascript:launch_resize("/images/1066AD/saxon_thegn_lft.png", 900, 1000);)
![Mad Jack Fuller](javascript:launch_resize("/tour_guide/images/mad_jack/the_needle.jpg"))
