ORIGINAL MARBLE ARCH SCULPTURE NOW PLACED IN ALDERSHOT, BEFORE THE QUADRIGA WE SEE TODAY:
WELLINGTON ARCH is located in front of Apsley House and behind Buckingham Palace. It was created to honor THE GRAND OLD DUKE OF WELLINGTON who had defeated Wellington in a very close call at Waterloo in 1815. The Arch has had a very interesting history. When it was first constructed, it faced Apsley House directly, rather than being set at an angle as it is today. Originally, a bronze sculpture of the Duke of Wellington sitting on his horse Copenhagen was placed atop the Arch. King Edward VII, Queen Victoria’s son, tired of his Buckingham Palace bedroom view of the Arch with the Duke of Wellington and Copenhagen in his face. The King organized the new bronze, THE QUADRIGA, for the Arch, moving the earlier sculpture of the Duke to the suburbs of London. THE KING SO ORDERED, AND THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON WAS MOVED. Also, one of London’s smallest police stations was once found in the base of the south column. Fun for visitors today to climb to the top of the Arch for a view of Apsley House and the back gardens of Buckingam Palace.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
