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Equestrian Statue of the Duke of Wellington

The Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington is an outdoor sculpture of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, a British soldier and statesman. It stands at the Royal Exchange in London and overlooks Bank junction in the historic City of London. The statue was sculpted by Francis Leggatt Chantrey. It commemorates Wellington’s assistance to the City of London in helping ensure that a bill was passed to allow the rebuilding of London Bridge. The base of the statue also serves as a ventilation shaft for Bank and Monument stations on the London Underground, and it was converted during the expansion of Bank station in 1994.

The Duke of Wellington equestrian monument on a granite pedestal in front of a stone building.
The Duke of Wellington monument stands on a tall pedestal beside a stone building.
© · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Duke of Wellington equestrian monument on a stone pedestal in front of a classical building.
The Duke of Wellington monument stands before a classical building with columns and many windows.
June 2000 © · CC0
The Duke of Wellington statue on a tall stone pedestal, with a classical building and columns behind it.
The Duke of Wellington statue stands on a weathered stone pedestal in front of a classical building.
January 2009 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Duke of Wellington equestrian statue on a tall stone pedestal in an urban plaza, with people and traffic nearby.
The Duke of Wellington statue stands on a tall pedestal in a city square surrounded by historic buildings.
October 2010 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Duke of Wellington statue in silhouette on a pedestal amid London traffic, with red double-decker buses nearby.
The Duke of Wellington statue stands above busy London street traffic near historic buildings and red double-decker buses.
March 2019 © · CC BY-SA 2.0

Identification

TitleEquestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington
SubjectArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
TypeEquestrian statue

Historical context

Depicted person's rolesBritish soldier and statesman
Depicted person's significanceRemembered for his participation in the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo
Commemorated eventBattle of Waterloo
Connection to WellingtonWellington led an allied army to victory against Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815
Reason for erectionTo show the City's gratitude for Wellington's assistance in passing the London Bridge Approaches Act 1827, which led to the creation of King William Street

Location and ownership

LocationRoyal Exchange, London
SettingOverlooks Bank junction in the historic City of London

Creator

SculptorFrancis Leggatt Chantrey; completed after his death by his studio assistant Henry Weekes
Completed byHenry Weekes

History and restoration

Attendee at unveilingFrederick Augustus II, King of Saxony, who was in London visiting Queen Victoria at the time
Base conversion dateConverted during the 1994 expansion of Bank station
Unveiling date18 June 1844
Unveiling contextChosen to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo
Unveiled byWellington attended the unveiling

Physical characteristics

Base functionVentilation shaft for Bank and Monument stations on the London Underground
Inscription"Wellington" is inscribed on each side of the plinth; "Erected 18 June 1844" is inscribed on the ends
PlaqueA brass plaque is located at the base of the plinth

Discovery and provenance

Associated nearby objectA piece of granite from London Bridge (1825–1967) is placed in the pavement beside the statue by the City of London Corporation
Related historical noteThe bridge's elevation stone was re-erected over the Colorado River in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1971

Other

Associated artist mentioned in relation to WellingtonCharles Robert Leslie
Related portrait contextWhile sitting for a later portrait by Charles Robert Leslie, Wellington recalled that Chantrey had told him he had a square head