Wellington Arch

Wellington Arch, from Constitution Hill.

Between 1824-25 there were several grand architectural projects in development that included the rebuilding of Buckingham Palace and a scheme for new gates and railings for the Royal Parks.

Piccadilly separated Green Park and Hyde Park and each was to have new gateways, to be designed by Decimus Burton, a 24-year old architect. His idea for the Green Park entrance could also function as an outer entrance to the rebuilt palace, so he designed two arches facing each other, over Piccadilly.

The original design.

Decimus Burton's Triumphal Arch became the scene of one of the Victorian eras'great controversies.

In 1839 the people wanted a monument to the Duke of Wellington, so the Wellington Memorial Committee appointed the designer Matthew Cotes Wyatt to design a monument 'to equal Nelson's column'.

Matthew Cotes Wyatt designed a giant equestrian statue of the Duke, which he proposed to be placed on the top of Burton's Arch. So, in 1846, the statue was mounted atop Burton's Arch, for a trial period and was ridiculed, with many saying that it looked absurd. Decimus Burton felt that the statue damaged his finest work and the statue was finally removed in 1883. One of his biggest gripes was that the statue looked 'across' the arch, rather than following the line of the gateway.

Dismantling Wellington Arch.

With the opening of Victoria station, in 1860, more pressure was placed on the roads as traffic crossed the already congested Piccadilly, which caused horrendous traffic jams at Hyde Park Corner.

So, in 1881, a scheme was devised to create a new junction and widen the road, but this would mean dismantling the Wellington Arch.

In 1883 the Wellington Arch was dismantled, to allow for the roadworks to be completed.

It was re-erected, on its current site, between 1885-86. This new location removed the arch's relationship with the Hyde Park Screen, but created a grand visual, for the arch, as it now looked directly down Constitutional Hill.

PC Cecil Pollard and Snooks.

Following the Wellington Arch's relocation it became London's smallest police station. The policemen were responsible for managing traffic, opening the gates on ceremonial occasions and overseeing the Royal Parks.

The police station was housed within the northern pier, while the southern pier was used as a park-keeper's residence.

By 1952 there were ten constables, two sergeants and a cat, named Snooks, within the station. The station closed in the late 1950s, shortly before work began.

In 1891 Adrian Jones, a sculptor and former army veterinary captain, who specialised in animal figures, exhibited a plaster piece, entitled 'Triumph', at the Royal Academy. This piece caught the eye of the Prince of Wales, who thought that it would look spectacular atop the newly rebuilt Wellington Arch.

'Triumph'.

Following a £20,000 donation by the banker, Sir Herbert Stern, Adrian Jones began work on a full-size plaster version of the piece, with King Edward VII taking a personal interest in the project. In 1912 the huge bronze 'Quadriga' was placed on top of Wellington Arch.

The 'Quadriga' depicts the winged goddess Victoria riding a four-horse chariot, being driven by a young boy. Victoria is modelled on Beatrice Ames Stewart, an actress, while the boy is modelled on Sir Herbert Stern's son, Herman.

The bronze is 12 metres high and 13 metres long. When it was erected it was the largest public sculpture in Britain. 

The Hyde Park Screen and Apsley House.

Traffic was still an issue, as it is today, which resulted in the Hyde Park Corner roundabout being created, between 1959-62, with an underpass carrying east-to-west traffic below the island. This resulted in the northern half of the arch being converted into an emergency ventilation shaft for the underpass. 

Constitution Hill and Buckingham Palace Gardens.

As of 1999, the Wellington Arch is managed by English Heritage. It contains a gift shop, two floors explaining the history of the arch and the Royal Artillery. The fourth and fifth floors contain a gallery and exhibition spaces. Two viewing platforms are also located on the fifth floor.  There is a spiral staircase and a lift, so that the arch is accessible to everyone.

Gallery