Wellington Monument, Somerset
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| Wellington Monument | |
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  Shown within Somerset
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| Building information | |
|---|---|
| Town | Wellington |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Architect | Thomas Lee |
| Construction start date | 1817 |
| Completion date | 1854 |
| Size | 175 ft high |
The Wellington Monument is a 175 ft high triangular tower located on the highest point of the Blackdown Hills, 3km south of Wellington, Somerset.
It was erected to celebrate the Duke of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Waterloo. The foundation stone was laid in 1817, on land belonging to the Duke, but the monument was not completed until 1854. Its design was inspired by an Egyptian obelisk, but in the shape of the type of bayonet used by Wellington's armies.[1] It is 80 feet wide at the base. A counterweight hangs inside to help balance the Monument in windy weather. An internal staircase ascends to a viewing platform.[2]
It is now owned by the National Trust, and is floodlit at night. Originally four cannons surrounded the Monument, but these were removed during the Second World War (1939-1945) and used for scrap to help the war effort. In 1985 the Wellington Rotary Club donated the cannon currently standing at the base of the Monument. The viewing platform is currently (2007) closed due to safety concerns.[3]
It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Leete-Hodge, Lornie (1985). Curiosities of Somerset. Bodmin: Bossiney Books, 67. ISBN 0906456983.
- ^ Wellington Monument. Taunton Deane Borough Council website. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
- ^ Quantocks, Exmoor and South Somerset. National Trust website. Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
- ^ Wellington Monument. Images of England. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
[edit] External links
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