The Nelson Monument-
Great Yarmouth’s Hidden Treasure

Tucked away in the South Denes, now surrounded by industrial units and wasteland stands a grand monument 144 feet tall, erected by the grateful citizens of Yarmouth and Norfolk to one of England’s greatest heroes – the Nelson Monument or Column, built in 1819 it predates London’s Trafalgar Square monument by over 21 years.

Horatio Nelson was born close to Great Yarmouth at Burnham Thorpe on the 29th September in 1758 and was the sixth child and the fifth son of the Reverend Edmund Nelson, rector of Burnham Thorpe.

During a short but illustrious naval career in which he was knighted, made an admiral, created a lord and won the hearts and adoration of the country, Nelson paid a number of visits to Yarmouth and here too won the love of the towns-people.

After Nelson’s death on the 21st October 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar the county decided to create a grand structure in his memory.

A meeting was held in the Shire Hall at Norwich and a fund was opened to collect money. In less than five months over £800 had been raised, but nothing happened for a number of years until in August 1814 when a new fund was begun.

Originally it was proposed that the memorial be built in Norwich but it was finally decided that the wide-open spaces of the South Denes at Yarmouth would be a better location. Designs were to be based on a tall column as it could be also used as a seamark for mariners off the coast of Yarmouth.

Raising the Money
William Wilkins a Norfolk-born architect was chosen and in March 1815 at a meeting in Thetford the organising committee initially approved some of his designs.

Original costs were estimated at around £7,500 but an extra £2,000 was added to this cost, as deeper and stronger foundations were needed to ensure that the column would remain stable on the sandy ground.

Gradually the funds were raised by public subscription (no help was given by Trinity House even though two requests were submitted) and a sum of £7,000 was raised and by reducing the height of the column by twenty feet work begun.

On 15th August 1817 accompanied by the Mayor and Corporation of Yarmouth, the Mayor of Norwich, and local dignitaries and townsfolk the foundation stone was laid by Colonel Woodhouse.

Beneath the foundations a copper plaque commemorating the event, along with gold and silver coins were buried.

In the evening a grand dinner was given by Isaac Preston, the Mayor of Yarmouth for over 350 guests.

The Design and Construction
William Wilkins design takes the form of a square stepped pedestal with a fluted Doric column that rises majestically 144 feet into the air topped by a statue of Britannia facing inland (some say to face towards Nelson’s birthplace at Burnham Thorpe)

On each side of this base are carved the names of the ships in which Nelson achieved his most famous victories the Captain, the Elephant, the Vanguard and finally the Victory.

Above these names are carved the names of the naval battles B>St Vincent, Copenhagen, Aboukir, and Trafalgar.

On the inland western side of the pedestal is an inscription that tells of Nelson and his famous exploits, and was composed in Latin by William Frere the then law-sergeant and Master of Downing College, Cambridge. (See below for translation)

Also inscribed are the names of the architect, members of the founding committee, the contractor, mason and the superintendent of works.

Towards the top of the column, which is built of white Mansfield stones, is a round structure with six caryatids (stone figures of women) that support the figure of Britannia.

These caryatids were originally made of Coade stone but were replaced in 1896 with concrete replicas.

These, as well as the figure of Britannia had to be replaced in 1982 by reproductions made from glass-resin reinforced plastic. (Unlike the rest of the monument the caryatids have never weathered and darkened to a dark grey, so do unfortunately stand out)

The Secret Of The Monument
The Monument has a secret that the casual observer knows nothing about! (This now includes many local people and certainly hardly any holidaymakers)

When you could actually walk around the very base of the Monument, on the western side of the Monument you can see a narrow entranceway, this has a number of stone steps that lead down to a small wooden door.

This doorway leads directly into the column itself, which was cleverly designed to incorporate a spiral staircase comprising of 217 stone steps that go right to the top of the column.

Climbing these steps leads to a circular area large enough for six or seven people to stand in. This is the Monuments crowning glory as it provides a spectacular 360-degree viewing platform where you can peer out between the caryatids.

From here you can face east and gaze far out to sea - or look to the west and see Great Yarmouth and Gorleston laid out below you, and on clear days you can see far out into the Norfolk countryside and see the sun sparkle on the Norfolk Broads!

Unfortunately these glorious views are no longer available as the stairway is closed to visitors because the Monument has been allowed to get into a poor state of repair and it is no longer deemed safe for the public to enter.

It is hoped that funding will shortly be made available from government sources for the necessary repairs to be made and one day we shall all be able to enjoy Nelson’s Monument as it was originally intended.

Here is a translation of the inscription found on the eastern side of the monument

HORATIO LORD NELSON
Whom, as her first and proudest champion in naval fight, Britain honoured, while living, with her favour, and when lost, with her tears; of whom, signalised by his triumphs in all lands, the whole earth stood in awe, on account of the tempered firmness of his counsels, and undaunted ardour of his courage.

This great man Norfolk boasts her own; not only as born there of a respectable family, and as there having received his early education, but her own also in talents, manners, and mind.

“The glory of so great a name, though sure long to outlive all monuments of brass and stone, his fellow countrymen of Norfolk have resolved to commemorate by this column, erected by their joint contributions.

“He was born in the year 1758; entered on his profession in 1771 and was concerned in nearly 150 naval engagements with the enemy; being conqueror, among various other occasions at

Aboukir, August, 1798
at Copenhagen, April, 1801
and at Trafalgar, October, 1805

Which last victory, the crown of so many glorious achievements, he consecrated by a death equally mournful to his country and honourable to himself”

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