Willis
monolith
Standing in a railing alcove on the pavement between the
Unitarian Meeting House (1700) and Willis Building (1975), both Listed
Grade I, is this Millennium obelisk.
2016
images
'2000' is inscribed on all four sides at the top.
Facing the Willis building:
'2000
Willis
Celebrating the
25th Anniversary
of the opening of the
Willis building
Serving the
World of Industry
and Commerce'
South face:
+ [Latin cross]
'Signifying
two millennia of
Christian history
Jesus said
Love one another
as I have loved you
Gospel of John
Chapter 15 verse 12'
At the rear under chalice:
'Celebrating the
300th Anniversary
of the Opening of
The Unitarian
Meeting House
‘Where we meet not
only one with another
but all with God.’
Reverend John Fairfax.
April 26th 1700'
On the north side under Borough coat of
arms:
'Marking the
800th Anniversary
of the
Borough of Ipswich
under the Charter
granted by King John
‘Serving the
community
of Ipswich'
Each side commemorates an event: the 2000th birthday of Christ,
the 300th birthday of the Unitarian Meeting Chapel, the 800 years since
the granting of the Charter to Ipswich, sent by King John from France
in June 1200, and 25 years of trading at Willis. Norman Foster's Willis
building was listed as Grade I in 1991, an exceptional honour for a
contemporary building matching the Unitarian Meeting House opposite.
[Information taken from
the Public Sculpture in Norfolk and Suffolk database (see Links).]
For an information and maps of the effect of the Willis building
on the surrounding roads, see our Lost
trade signs page.
For views from the Willis roof garden see our Princes
Street page.
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Historic Lettering site: Borin Van Loon
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