This monumental piece of stone is a reminder of a more dangerous time, when British Empire saw the world as conquerable and controllable. At 40 tonnes, it’s one of the largest stone spheres in the world. Made in Greenwich in 1887, it is a representation of the height of British Empire – looking out to sea from here, the viewer is invited to ‘celebrate’ the conquering of the world and the taming of both the continents and the oceans.

Around the base you’ll find plaques carved with quotations from English and Roman poets and from the Bible, and also facts about the natural world, the stars and planets. Today, thankfully, we no longer think of Britain as the centre of the world and the universe – at least not all British people do.

Image shared with Creative Commons:

Photo credit: Nigel Wood / Art UK

Original available to view here: https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/durlston-great-globe-303188#