Wellington Monument, Triangular obelisk in Somerset, England
Wellington Monument is an obelisk in southern Somerset that rises 53 meters (174 feet) above Blackdown Hills. The three sides form a pointed pyramid made of local stone, and an iron gate now secures access to the internal stairway.
Work began in 1817, two years after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The project remained incomplete until donations and local efforts in the 19th century allowed its completion.
The name honors Arthur Wellesley, who became Duke of Wellington after his victory in 1815. Visitors today see the reopened structure, restored after years of closure thanks to local fundraising and national support.
The National Trust manages the site and allows access to the grounds surrounding the tower. Walking trails run through the area and offer good viewpoints from several directions.
The three-sided design is rare among obelisks worldwide and makes this the tallest of its kind. An old cannon rests at the base, recalling the military past.
Location: Wellington
Inception: 1854
Architects: Thomas Lee
Height: 53 m
Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/wellington-monument
GPS coordinates: 50.94807,-3.22934
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31
Somerset preserves a broad range of historical sites away from the main visitor routes. The region shows medieval abbeys such as Muchelney and Cleeve, Norman castles like Stogursey and Nunney, Elizabethan manor houses including Cothay Manor and Lytes Cary, and prehistoric stone bridges such as Tarr Steps. The landscape ranges from limestone gorges like Ebbor Gorge to ancient oak woodlands and coastal sections with geological formations at Kilve Beach. The villages contain market halls, dovecotes and small churches that reflect centuries of local use.
Church of St John the Baptist, Wellington
3.7 km
Tonedale Mills
4.2 km
Tone Dale House
4.2 km
Hemyock Castle
4 km
Gerbestone Manor
3.3 km
Wellington Museum
3.1 km
Longforth Farm
4.3 km
Ringdown SSSI, Somerset
4.4 km
Wellington Town Hall, Somerset
3.4 km
Church of St Mary
4 km
Parish Church of St Andrew
2.9 km
Church of the Holy Cross
3.4 km
Culm Davy Chapel
2.6 km
Sampford Arundel War Memorial
3.4 km
Wellesley Theatre
3.1 km
Village Pump
4 km
Milestone At Ngr St 1023 1939
4.1 km
Culmstock Beacon
3.5 km
Hemyock War Memorial
4 km
Whitehall Manor
3.5 km
Tonedale Mills (west Complex)
4.2 km
Water Tower (Easternmost Of Pair)
3 km
Dunsgreen Farmhouse
3.8 km
The Forge
3.5 km
Railway Bridge And Lodge Adjoining On South Front At Ngr St 1445 2174
4.6 km
Gatepiers And Gates At Entrance To Churchyard, Church Of The Holy Cross
3.4 km
Water Tower (Westernmost Of Pair)
3 km
Culmbridge Manor
3.7 kmReviews
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