Wellington Statue, Aldershot

The Wellington Statue in Aldershot is a monument to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington victor at the Battle of Waterloo and later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Sculptured by Matthew Cotes Wyatt, it was the largest equestrian statue in Britain, when it was unveiled at its original location at Hyde Park Corner in 1846

Origins of the Statue

The origins of the Statue date back to the end of the Napoleonic Wars, when various memorials to the British victory were being built, including Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square and the victory arch at Hyde Park Corner. In 1837 a Committee was formed under the Chairmanship of the Duke of Rutland to raise sufficient funds for a memorial to Arthur Wellesley, The 1st Duke of Wellington. The sculptor was Matthew Cotes Wyatt. In the Statue the Duke is shown on Copenhagen, the famous charger that he had ridden at Waterloo. Fittingly, much of the bronze in the Statue is derived from French cannon captured at Waterloo and remelted in Wyatt's foundry. Wellington himself sat for the sculptor. Copenhagen, however, had died and a substitute horse was used as a model and this offended many at the time who saw a poor likeness to Copenhagen in the statue.

At the time it was the largest equestrian statue in Britain, being 30 feet high, 26 feet from Copenhagen's nose to tail, and 21 feet in girth. It weighed 40 tons. In 1846 the Statue was moved from Wyatt's workshop to Hyde Park Corner, where it was lifted onto the as yet unfinished victory arch. Many thought the Statue out of proportion to the arch, and Queen Victoria regarded it as an eye-sore, somewhat marring the view from Buckingham Palace; however, it could not be moved during the remaining life time of the Duke of Wellington, who would have seen such a move as an insult.

The Move to Aldershot

When Wellington Arch, also known as Constitution Arch or (originally) the Green Park Arch, was moved in 1882-3 a short distance to its present location on Hyde Park Corner, the Statue of the Duke was removed and left in Green Park while its future location was debated. In 1883 the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, suggested that it should be moved to Aldershot Military Town, "where it will be highly regarded by the Army." Eventually Parliament agreed with his suggestion and the Statue was taken to Aldershot for reassembly. The removal of the Statue from the Triumphal Arch was a relief to the many critics who had considered the Statue out of proportion and inappropropriate for such a location.

On a visit to Aldershot, the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) selected Round Hill close by the Royal Garrison Church as the new site for the Statue. Moving Wyatt's creation from London was no mean feat. However, it was successfully and ceremoniously handed to the British Army in August 1885 in front of a large crowd of onlookers.

Restoration

The Statue fell into a sad state of repair in the last half of the twentieth century, being largely hidden behind overgrown trees and bushes on Round Hill. In early 2004 Aldershot Garrison, supported by local conservation groups and volunteers, commenced a major restoration project to restore the Statue to its original condition. The overgrown bushes were cleared and the Statue itself was re-bronzed. The Friends of the Aldershot Military Museum have taken on the role of " 'Friends of the Statue' ", supported by Aldershot Garrison, Rushmoor Council and the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership.

ee also

*Wellington Arch in Hyde Park, London
*Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

External links

* [http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/aldershot/faq/wellington.html The Wellington Statue] - Aldershot Military Museum.
* [http://www.hants.gov.uk/friendsamm Friends of Aldershot Military Museum]