The Nelson Monument, Portsdown Hill

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Portsmouth’s Nelson Monument
Portsmouth’s Nelson Monument

Standing 120 feet tall on a granite base[1]The Nelson Monument was the eventual outcome of a movement started during Horatio Nelson's lifetime to “perpetuate the glorious victories of the British Navy.”[2]. By 1799 Nelson's prize agent Alexander Davison was able to use the Nelson name to spearhead a campaign[3] to honour “Britain’s naval glory and pre-eminence”. It was, however, Nelson’s death at Trafalgar, 21 October 1805, that galvanized the campaign[4]. A design for the monument by John Thomas Groves of the Board of Works was exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1807,[5] and letters were written to The Times asking where the money Davison had raised had gone[6] but the £4050 he raised was never recovered[7]. The final (and successful) attempt was paid for by the Navy itself[8]. This time the fund’s driving force, Captain Thomas Freemantle, adopted a more altruistic approach[9] and the monument commenced construction on 4 July 1807[10] with the final checks to the inscription[11] made just over a year later. Today it is within the boundaries of Fareham Borough Council[12]. The nearby Fort Nelson, Portsmouth, completed in 1871 as another Napoleon threatened England's South Coast, is so named because of its proximity to the monument[13].

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Pocock,T., Horatio Nelson (London, Brockhampton) 1987 ISBN 1860199089
  2. ^ Howarth, D. and S. Howarth, Nelson: The Immortal Memory (Uxbridge: Corgi) 2004 ISBN 0552150851
  3. ^ The Alexander Davison Collection, Sotheby's, October 21, 2002 Letter to Nelson to inform him of a Committee formed by The Duke of Clarence, The Prime Minister and others to examine proposals for a national monument.
  4. ^ Padfield, P., Nelson’s War (Ware: Wordsworth) 1976 ISBN 1840222255
  5. ^ Colvin, Howard, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, (Yale University Press) 3rd ed. 1995, s.v. "John Thomas Groves".
  6. ^ The matter was eventually brought before Parliament (The Times, Wednesday, April 26, 1809; pg. 2; Issue 7656; col B "Houses Of Commons"; Tuesday, April 25. "Abuse Of Patronage".
  7. ^ Downer, M., Nelson’s Purse: The mystery of Lord Nelson’s Lost Treasures (Uxbridge, Corgi) 2004 ISBN ISBN 0552150851
  8. ^ Naval subscriptions
  9. ^ Smith, J., The Nelson Monument Portsdown Hill: a seamark re-discovered (Portsmouth, The Nelson Society) 2007 ISBN 9780953720064
  10. ^ Smith, J., The story of Nelson’s Portsmouth (Tiverton,:Halsgrove) 2005 ISBN 1841144762
  11. ^ Details of inscription
  12. ^ Local Council Details
  13. ^ Reason for name

50°51′82″N, 1°7′64″WCoordinates: 50°51′82″N, 1°7′64″W