Sunday, August 19, 2012

The Nelson's Column of the North

This is the Collingwood Monument at Tynemouth, which looks out across the Tyne estuary to the sea.

The statue of Cuthbert Collingwood, who took command of the British fleet after Nelson's death at Trafalgar and completed the victory, is some 23ft high and stands on a massive plinth. Four canon from Collingwood's ship in the battle, The Royal Sovereign, can also be found there.

An inscription on the monument reads:

THIS MONUMENT
was erected in 1845 by Public Subscription to the memory of
ADMIRAL LORD COLLINGWOOD
who in the Royal Sovereign on the 21st October 1805, led the British Fleet
into action at Trafalgar and sustained the Sea Fight for upwards of an hour
before the other ships were within gun shot, which caused Nelson to exclaim
“SEE HOW THAT NOBLE FELLOW COLLINGWOOD TAKES HIS SHIP INTO ACTION"
He was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1748 and died in the Service
of his country, on board of the”VILLE-DE-PARIS” on 7th March 1810
AND WAS BURIED IN ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL.
THE FOUR GUNS UPON THIS MONUMENT BELONGED TO HIS SHIP THE
“ROYAL SOVEREIGN”



No comments: