Tips
Dan Hobson
February 8, 2020
Hiking
Hagley Obelisk is a Grade II-listed monument that was constructed in the mid-18th century. Since the 1970s, the monument has been defaced with graffiti relating to an unsolved murder from the 1940s in which a woman's body was found in nearby woodland. The graffiti asks: "Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?"
Ian
July 15, 2025
Hiking
Look out for the graffiti - "Who put Bella in the Wych Elm". Local folklore, which you can google and decide whether the murder was black magic or nazi spies?
finbo 🐺
October 25, 2026
Hiking
The obelisk is a site for the re-appearance of infamous graffiti "Who put Bella in the wych elm?" relating to an unsolved murder case dating back to the discovery of a body in 1943 in a hollow tree in nearby Hagley Woods.
explorethepast.co.uk/2016/09/monthly-mystery-who-put-bella-in-the-wych-elm/#:~:text=In%201944%20a%20new%20twist%20was%20added,name%20tag%20'Bella'%20which%20the%20police%20adopted
explorethepast.co.uk/2016/09/monthly-mystery-who-put-bella-in-the-wych-elm/#:~:text=In%201944%20a%20new%20twist%20was%20added,name%20tag%20'Bella'%20which%20the%20police%20adopted
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Nearby routes
Best routes near Hagley Obelisk
4.6
(5)
24
hikers
11.5km
03:15
250m
250m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.
Moderate
2
hikers
14.0km
03:55
280m
270m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.
Moderate
4.7
(6)
28
hikers
9.85km
02:48
220m
220m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.
Moderate
Details
Informations
Elevation 200 m
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