The Nelson Monument, Portsdown Hill

Standing 120 feet tall on a granite base [Pocock,T., "Horatio Nelson" (London, Brockhampton) 1987 ISBN 1860199089 ] 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.” [Howarth, D. and S. Howarth, "Nelson: The Immortal Memory" (Uxbridge: Corgi) 2004 ISBN 0552150851 ] . By 1799 Nelson's prize agent Alexander Davison was able to use the Nelson name to spearhead a campaign ["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.] to honour “Britain’s naval glory and pre-eminence”. It was, however, Nelson’s death at Trafalgar, 21 October 1805, that galvanized the campaign [Padfield, P., "Nelson’s War" (Ware: Wordsworth) 1976 ISBN 1840222255 ] . A design for the monument by John Thomas Groves of the Board of Works was exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1807, [Colvin, Howard, "A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840", (Yale University Press) 3rd ed. 1995, "s.v." "John Thomas Groves".] and letters were written to "The Times" asking where the money Davison had raised had gone [ 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".] but the £4050 he raised was never recovered [Downer, M., "Nelson’s Purse: The mystery of Lord Nelson’s Lost Treasures" (Uxbridge, Corgi) 2004 ISBN ISBN 0552150851] . The final (and successful) attempt was paid for by the Navy itself [ [http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/history/207.htm Naval subscriptions] ] . This time the fund’s driving force, Captain Thomas Freemantle, adopted a more altruistic approach [Smith, J., "The Nelson Monument Portsdown Hill: a seamark re-discovered" (Portsmouth, The Nelson Society) 2007 ISBN 9780953720064] and the monument commenced construction on 4 July 1807 [Smith, J., "The story of Nelson’s Portsmouth" (Tiverton,:Halsgrove) 2005 ISBN 1841144762] with the final checks to the inscription [ [http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/portsmouth-north/nelson-column.htm Details of inscription] ] made just over a year later. Today it is within the boundaries of Fareham Borough Council [ [http://www.fareham.gov.uk/discover_local_area/whats_here/nelsonmonument.aspx Local Council Details] ] . 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 [ [http://www.hgs-online.org.uk/pfolly.htm. Reason for name] ] .

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