Boughton Obelisk was built in 1764 by William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford (1722-91), who lived at Boughton Hall. A 100 foot high column of local white sandstone, it is the most prominent of the seven follies in Boughton Park. It once bore the inscription: "This obelish was erected in 1764 in memory of his grace William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire" William Cavendish was a lifelong friend of Wentworth's, and had been educated at Boughton. He became Prime Minister in 1756. On the opposite side was a quotation from Pope's "Essay on Man": "Herein the rich, the honour'd, fam'd, and great, see the false scales of happiness compleat"