equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington

The equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington stands on Round Hill in Aldershot Military Town, a prominent landmark for the British Army. It was moved here in 1885 after years on Hyde Park Corner, where many found it too large for its setting. The statue was sculpted by Matthew Cotes Wyatt and shows Wellington on his famous horse Copenhagen. Much of its bronze came from captured French cannon at Waterloo. Copenhagen had died before the work began, so a substitute horse was used as a model. The statue is worth the journey for its historical weight and military significance. Queen Victoria once called it an eyesore near Buckingham Palace. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, suggested Aldershot as its new home. The Army took possession in 1885 in a large public ceremony. It was restored in 2004 after decades hidden by overgrowth. Visitors find the statue on a grassy hill near the Royal Pavilion and Garrison Church. The bronze gleams after recent conservation work. Round Hill offers wide views across Aldershot Military Town. The Friends of the Aldershot Military Museum help maintain the site. It ranks highly among local attractions.