NELSON’S
MONUMENT,
Glasgow Green
The first monument to be located in
Glasgow Green was that dedicated to Horatio, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805)
following his spectacular victory against the French at the Battle of Trafalgar
in 1805, the battle in which he died. This was the first such honour accorded to
Nelson by the British public - Nelson's Column in London was not erected until
1849.
The obelisk on its plinth, rising to
a height of 144 feet was designed by the popular architect of the period David
Hamilton (1768-1843). It was paid for by public subscription and erected in
1806. The names of Nelson's most famous engagements are recorded on the base of
the monument - Aboukir (1st August, 1798), Copenhagen (2nd April, 1801) and
Trafalgar (21st October, 1805). Such was Nelson's popularity that 80,000 people
attended the laying of the foundation stone. The inscription on the
commemorative plate placed there is recorded in Elspeth King's (1985) book.
Lightning conductors were not in
common use at this time, and so tall structures such as the monument remained
particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes. This actually occurred on the 5th
August, 1810 during a notably violent thunderstorm. The top 20 feet of the
structure collapsed and the rest was seriously damaged. Troops were used to keep
the crowds away until repairs could be effected. Signs of the damage are still
in evidence to the present day.
The event was vividly recorded in a
painting by the Glasgow artist, John Knox which is in the possession of the
People's Palace along with other examples of his work. From this painting it is
interesting to note the wild aspect of the Glasgow Green of the time, soon to be
transformed into well-manicured swards by James Cleland's improvements.
Since its construction the monument
has provided a focal point for meetings and demonstrations. Less happily, it
also gave rise to the local expression, to "die facing the monument."
This referred to the public executions which took place in Jail Square during
the period from 1814 to 1865. The last thing that the condemned person saw as
they faced east from the scaffold would be Nelson's monument. Hence the
expression alluded to a lifestyle which seemed likely to end with the hangman's
noose.
The structure is not all solid stone;
David Kirkwood (1872-1955) describes how an ancestor of his, one
"Rubble" Kirkwood, was employed with others to fill the shell with the
rubble of demolished dwellings. The content may well prove as interesting to
future archaeologists and the outside does to present admirers!
Much as the present cult status of
footballers and pop stars results in their names being given to a generation of
children, this was also the effect that Nelson had in his day. Apart from
monuments being raised to his memory throughout the kingdom, there were no doubt
countless Horatios running around the streets of the city, one being Glasgow’s
own Horatio McCulloch. He was also celebrated in place-names such as Trafalgar
St., Bridgeton and Nelson St., Baillieston.
© 2005 Gordon Adams
