The Northern Antarctic Monument in Cambridge

The Antarctic Monument has been designed by the distinguished sculptor, Oliver Barratt. He has created a unique work which is in two parts - one in the United Kingdom and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. This reflects the environmental and scientific link between Britain and the Antarctic whilst at the same time recognising the emotional and physical separation experienced by explorers.

One part symbolises a mould made of British oak from which the other stainless steel part has been cast.

A detail of the gap between the two sides of the Monument  - an elliptical shape that is the basis of the Southern Part of the Monument in the Falkland Islands.

 

Brian Dorsett-Bailey makes a symbolic cut

 

Trustee Brian Dorsett Bailey assists Oliver Barratt in the rough chiselling of the Cambridge Monument. 

 

The Antarctic Monument was unveiled outside the Scott Polar Research Institute on 12 May 2011

The Antarctic Monument created by the sculptor Oliver Barratt was unveiled by the artist and the Chairman of the British Antarctic Monument Trust to applause from well over a hundred family and friends.

Antarctic Monument at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Lensfield Road, Cambridge.
Photo Julian Paren

 
Professor Julian Dowdeswell, Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute, welcomed the friends and relatives of those who died in the Antarctic saying that the monument to "those who lost there lives in Antarctica in pursuit of science" was wholly fitting in the Institute which had been set up by money to continue Scott's scientific work.
 
After the unveiling to a round of applause Oliver Barratt explained the significance of his design of the monument, saying that the living and dead were inter-dependent. The living depended on the dead for their understanding and appeciation of the world.
 
The Director concluded the afternoon by inviting the familiies and friends to explore the newly furbished Polar Museum and take tea in the Entrance Hall.
 

You can see a slide show of the unveiling here.

SPRI aquires the Northern Monument in October 2021

The British Antarctic Monument Trust has donated the northern monument to the Scott Polar Research Institute, SPRI, which has taken it into its permanent collection and will be looking after it with the care it lavishes on its own unique artifacts.

In order to enhance the siting of the monument Trustee Dick Harbour has been working with SPRI to clean the sculpture and cut back the overhanging sycamore trees from the school next door. He has overseen the installation of a bed of stone chippings around the steel base to protect it from damage from passing mowing machines. New stainless steel plaques have been added to replace those that had become rather faded. The SPRI has installed two benches and additional planting to make the area more pleasant for staff and visitors to tarry a while.

Chairman Roderick Rhys Jones said, ”The inclusion of the Northern part of the monument into the permanent collection of the world renowned Scott Polar Research Institute, founded to commemorate the deaths of Captain Scott and his companions, will bring great comfort to the relatives and colleagues of ‘those who lost their lives in Antarctica in pursuit of science for the benefit of us all’.”

The former Director of the Scott Polar Resaerch Institute, Professor Julian Dowdeswell has written a letter of appreciation to the Trust for thedonation of the Memorial.  The letter may be viewed here.  

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