Shepherd's Monument at Shugborough Hall

The Shepherd’s Monument stands in the park of Shugborough Hall, a grand estate in Staffordshire. Built in the 18th century, it was commissioned by Thomas Anson, who admired Greek architecture. The structure features a rustic arch above an entablature, framing a tomb-like relief. The relief itself is the work of sculptor Peter Scheemakers, who also created the nearby Arch of Hadrian. Scheemakers based his design on Nicolas Poussin’s painting *The Shepherds of Arcadia*, though his version appears as a mirror image. The monument carries two inscriptions. One is the Latin phrase *ET IN ARCADIA EGO*, taken from Poussin’s painting. Its meaning remains uncertain, often linked to mortality but open to interpretation. Below the relief is a stone plaque bearing a ten-letter inscription. This cryptic sequence, known as the Shugborough inscription, gained fame in 1982 through *The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail*. Experts from Bletchley Park once tried to decode it while the estate was managed by Staffordshire County Council. The monument is protected as a Grade II* listed building. Damp conditions had damaged the stone, so the National Trust took steps in 2010 to preserve it. Visitors find the monument set within the landscaped grounds of Shugborough Hall. The surrounding park offers quiet walks among other historic structures. The contrast between the classical design and the natural setting draws many who appreciate both art and history.