The Obelisk
He is notable for a large obelisk in his memory on Magots Mount (52°08′10″N 0°06′20″E / 52.1362°N 0.1056°E / 52.1362; 0.1056) near Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire. This small hill is also known as Rowley's Hill and on some maps as St. Margaret's Mount. The obelisk was erected in 1739.
The monument is inscribed as follows:
To the Memory of Gregory Wale Esq, Justice of the Peace for this County. Deputy Lieutenant. County Treasurer. Conservator of the River Cam. He lived an advocate for liberty. A good subject. An agreeable companion, a faithful friend, an hospitable neighbour, and in all parts of life a useful member of society. He died June 5th 1739 in the 71st year of his age: universally lamented, and was buried in the parish church of Little Shelford. This obelisk was erected by his surviving friend James Church Esq as a public testimony of his regard to the memory of so worthy a gentleman.
Gregory Wale and James Church used to meet regularly at this place, and they agreed that when one of them died, the survivor should put up a monument to his friend's memory on the very spot where they so often met.
After the death of Gregory Wale, his granddaughter Margot Wale often used to walk up the mount and was very fond of it. At the latter end of her life she would lie at her window and watch her little hill and her friends and the country people got into the habit of calling it "Margot's Mount" and in later years this was corrupted to "Maggot's Mount".
Gregory Wale was Lord of the Manor of Tiptofts in Harston, Cambridgeshire from 1731–1735 His son and grandson were subsequently Lord of the Manor.
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