The monument at Wellington.

[lankybob]

You all probably know what I'm talking about but here it is anyway... http://g.co/maps/k8yw8
A couple of questions, firstly, why is it not lit any more? I used to love seeing it on my way home from somewhere, it was haunting and looked very ghostly.
Also, what is it for? Everyone I have asked has forgotten, apparently, what it was there for.
Cheers,
Bob.

[MudSkipper]

This is might help answer 1 question...

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Monument...

[lankybob]

Yeah, I looked at the just after I posted. Quite interesting.
The main question I wanted answered was why isn't it lit any more? It's a shame.

[minghis]

As far as I am aware it was simply because they were being targeted by vandals and that there were repeated attempts also to steal the light fittings. Because of its location it was an easy target unfortunately. In the not too distant past the track that goes right up to it was open and you could drive right up to it. This got abused and was stopped, you now have to walk.

Apparently the key was available from someone locally and you could climb up inside it - I have no idea if you still can, I never did it despite living within sight of it.

[lankybob]

Big shame. Surely English Heritage would have something to say about it or do they not have the same powers over the National Trust as they do us?

[lankybob]

Where did ChimTVR's post go?

[chimtvr]

I realised that I was ranting and hating and decided that perhaps PH wasn't the place for it
however I do feel strongly about the monument it does deserve to be remembered by the country and the idea of a memorial being left to fall down is disgusting

[lankybob]

It is, indeed, a disgrace. It is always a shame to hear of these monuments going to waste, especially ones which struck you as a child.

[snowmuncher]

+1; It is basically a war memorial not just to Wellington himself, but all those that died during the Napoleonic wars, and should be treated with the respect it deserves.

[wessexrfc]

snowmuncher said:

+1; It is basically a war memorial not just to Wellington himself, but all those that died during the Napoleonic wars, and should be treated with the respect it deserves.

+2 here-here

[thehos]

Worked on it years ago, restoring it, stansell's, probably 20 years ago, we had to grease all the scaffolding to stop people climbing up, coldest place I ever worked.

Did go up inside and carved my name on the window sill, told to do it , not vandalism, there's a big counter weight hanging from the point inside, just gently swinging back an forth

[chimtvr]

get back up there Al sort it out!