The Wellington Monument to the Duke of Wellington stands on one of the highest points of the Blackdowns (on land that he once owned) and is itself 53 metres high, making it a highly visible landmark in the region. It was built in tribute to the Duke's military achievements at the Battle of Waterloo (1815), the final battle of the Napoleonic Wars in which the Duke and the Prussian marshal Blucher defeated Napoleon's French army.
A foundation stone was laid in 1817 by Lord Somerville, but due to lack of funds it was not until 1854, after the Duke's death, that the early work was restored and the monument completed. In 1892 the top six metres were rebuilt during further restoration work and an additional 1.5 metres was added to the top.
Wellington Monument sits on a hill above
the town of Wellington,
in southern Somerset, and is clearly visible
from the nearby M5 to Exeter.
You might be forgiven for thinking that the monument is named after the
town it overlooks and, in a way, you'd be right. In fact, the monument
is named after the Duke of Wellington, who was named after the town,
following his victory over the French at Talavera.
Originally Arthur Wellesley, he took the title of Duke
of Wellington after finding that his ancesters originally came from Somerset
and the town of Wellington was similar to his own surname. The dukedom
was given to him as a reward for his victories in battle.
The monument was built by local dignitaries, in honour
of Wellington, after his victory at Waterloo. Originally it was to be
surrounded by twenty four cannons left from the battle at Waterloo, but
unfortunately the wrong cannons were delivered to Exeter Quay and there
they stayed.
The monument was completed in 1892 and is 175 feet tall.
The stone is Calcareous Grit, a fine-grained sandstone quarried at Northay 12 kilometres to the south-east. Structurally the Monument is similar to an Egyptian obelisk following the trend for Egyptian design during the late 19th century.The three-sided pillar was said to have been chosen to mimic the three-sided bayonet used at the Battle of Waterloo, though the plans indicate that a four-sided pillar would have cost twice as much in materials! Originally the plan was for a column surmounted by a cast iron statue of the Duke with sculptured figures of veterans on the plinth, but this was abandoned due to the expense. Inside there is a spiral staircase of 235 steps leading to the top where there is standing room for three people. (The key is available from Monument Farm). Four cannons surrounded the monument from the turn of the 20th century until World War Two, when they were dismantled to provide metal for the war effort.The existing cannon was given by the Wellington Rotary Club in l985.The site has been owned and managed by The National Trust since 1934 and today includes 6.5 hectares of semi-natural woodland and species-rich grassland.
From the monument there are often fine views north to the Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel.To the north-west can be seen Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor. In good weather the Welsh mountains, the Mendips and Glastonbury Tor can be seen.
Wellington Monument
Somerset
The Wellington Monument
to comerorating the Duke of Wellington stands on one of the highest
points of the Blackdowns (on land that he once owned) and is itself 53
metres high, making it a highly visible landmark in the region.
It was built
in tribute to the Duke’s military achievements at the Battle of Waterloo
(1815), the final battle of the Napoleonic Wars in which the Duke and the
Prussian marshal Blucher defeated Napoleon’s French army.
A foundation stone was laid in 1817 by Lord Somerville, but due to lack of
funds it was not until 1854, after the Duke’s death, that the early work
was restored and the monument completed.
In 1892 the top six metres
were rebuilt during further restoration work, and an additional 1.5 metres
was added to the top.
The stone is Calcareous Grit, a fine-grained
sandstone quarried at Northay 12 kilometres to the south-east.
Structurally the Monument is similar to an Egyptian obelisk, following the
trend for Egyptian design during the late 19th century.The three-sided
pillar was said to have been chosen to mimic the three-sided bayonet
used at the Battle of Waterloo, though the plans indicate that a four-sided
pillar would have cost twice as much in materials!
Wellington Monument, Somerset
Originally the plan was
for a column surmounted by a cast iron statue of the Duke with sculptured
figures of veterans on the plinth, but this was abandoned due to the
expense.
Inside there is a spiral staircase of 235 steps leading to the top
where there is standing room for three people. (The key is available from
Monument Farm).
Four cannons surrounded the monument from the turn
of the 20th century until World War Two, when they were dismantled to
provide metal for the war effort. The existing cannon was given by the
Wellington Rotary Club in 1985.
The site has been owned and managed by
The National Trust since 1934 and today includes 6.5 hectares of
semi-natural woodland and species-rich grassland.
There are often fine views north to the Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel. To the north-west can be seen Dunkery Beacon,
the highest point on Exmoor.
In good weather the Welsh mountains, the
Mendips and Glastonbury Tor can be seen.
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