Stoodley Pike nwar Todmorden. (James Green)

Almost universally, the design of the second Stoodley Pike is attributed to James Green, said to have been won in an architectural competition determined on 1 June 1854. However, contemporary reports of this meeting published in the Manchester Guardian and Halifax Courier on 3 June 1854 give Watts and Walker (qv) of Manchester as the winning architects. FurtherThe Halifax Courier of 14 August 1854 reported a visit to the site by the re-building committee together with the “architect from Manchester.” More research is required to determine the veracity of the competing claims.

Situated near Lumbutts, above Todmorden on the route of the Pennine Way. Standing 1,300 feet (396.2 m) above sea level, and at a physical height of 120 feet (36.57 m), the first monument was 113 feet (34.44 m) high. Stoodley Pike was first erected in 1814 to commemorate the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Samuel Greenwood, Thomas Sutcliffe and Richard Ingham were granted permission to erect a monument to celebrate peace in Great Britain on 22nd September 1814 at the Golden Lion Inn, Stones.  On the afternoon of 8th February 1854 the first monument collapsed. A few years earlier it had been damaged by a lightning strike, which it is thought contributed to the collapse. Coincidentally, that same afternoon the Russia Ambassador left London before the declaration of war with Russia.

The "freeholders" met on 16th February 1854 and resolved to build a new monument offering additional land and £100 towards the cost. On 10th March the freeholders appointed a committee, under the Chairmanship of John Fielden to oversee the finance, land acquisition and design. It was accepted that the reconstruction costs would be about £300 - £400. The freeholders agreed to a deed in perpetuity of a site for the new pike and the land required for access. At the next meeting held on 30th March 1854, Samuel Fielden proposed the motion, seconded by John A. Ingham and the obelisk form was accepted as the most appropriate solution. A total of £300 was raised on the night with £50 being donated by each of the following; Samuel, John and Joshua Fielden W Greenwood and John A, Ingham. By the beginning of June, further financial contributions had been received from Thomas Fielden, of Crumsall, Mrs James Fielden of Dobroyd and others which brought the total to £600. On 1st June 1854 the various designs for an obelisk were displayed for the committee. The selected design was that produced by a local architect, James Green of Portsmouth, Todmorden (* see note above). A works committee was appointed to oversee finance and construction consisting of: John Fielden, of Stansfield Hall, Chairman; Samuel Fielden, of Stansfield Hall, Treasurer; W. Knowles, of Lumb, Secretary; John Arthur Ingham, of Shaw, Langfield;Josua Fielden, of Stanfield Hall; John Eastwood, of Eastwood;John Veevers; Edward Lord, of Greave, Langfield; William Greenwood, of Stones in Hundersfield; J. Green, of Portsmouth; John Lacey, of Underbank Hall.

Mr. Lewis Crabtree, of Hebden Bridge, was selected as contractor and construction commenced. The pike was sited further back from the hill edge than the former one to prevent the erosion experienced before at foundation level. Construction was completed as peace was proclaimed in 1856 at a final cost of £812, the additional cost being met by Samuel Fielden of Centre Vale.

Restoration and some additions were required to be carried out in 1889 at a cost of £160, including the installation of a lightning conductor