Death in the wood

You see the General Martin monument as you walk through the countryside around Gibridding Wood (near Hawksmoor). It's a lonely little monument, which sits on the side of a hillock opposite the wood itself.

It was erected in the late nineteenth century as a tribute to a Major-General Alfred Martin, who was killed when he fell from his horse while out riding at this spot on New Year's Eve 1892..

At one point it stood on its own, but now it has this fence built around it - to protect it form vandals I suppose - which spoils it slightly as the inscription is now very hard to read.

It’s an object of real interest locally, and there will be a talk on it given at a meeting of the Cheadle & District Historical Society next April.
I’m pretty sure the room will be full that night.