#onthisday 21st October. Nelson and Trafalgar
Published on 21st October 2015
On Monday, 21st October, 1805, a coalition of countries commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the French and Spanish fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar. During the battle the Vice-Admiral was shot and killed.
Left: Engraving: J. Warburton, J. Whitelaw, Robert Wash, History of the City of Dublin, 1818, Vol. 2
Soon after the battle, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Vance, convened a group of dignitaries: bankers, nobility, clergy, merchants, etc, to decide one way to honour the memory of Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. The choice was to build a monument: a pillar. Initially it was William Wilkins who designed the project, which included a Roman galley on the top of the pillar. Later, the architect Francis Johnston (who also designed the General Post Office, Royal Hibernian Academy, St. George's Church and the Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle) changed the original design placing a statue of Nelson instead of the galley.
In 1808, the foundation stone for Nelson's Pillar in Dublin's O'Connell Street was laid. The statue was funded by public subscription. The Doric column was 121 feet high, with 168 spiral steps inside, and was topped by a 13-foot high statue in Portland stone of Vice-Admiral Nelson carved by the Cork sculptor Thomas Kirk.
On 21st October 1809, the fourth anniversary of the Battle Of Trafalgar, the Pillar was opened to the public for the first time. For 10d in the beginning and for 6d later, the public could enter the column and go up to contemplate Dublin city from the top.
A porch at street level designed by G.P. Beater was added in 1894.
Above: Nelson's Pillar Engraving: Individual print
With the advent of trams, the Pillar became a tram terminus, and a popular meeting place for friends and lovers. "I'll meet you at the Pillar" became a popular saying.
Above Left: Nelson's Pillar, 1960s. Above Right: Pillar Entrance, 1960s
On 8th March 1966, 161 years after the Battle of Trafalgar, at precisely 1:32 am, a bomb exploded and the statue of Admiral Nelson was destroyed. The badly damaged monument had to be entirely removed as a result of the extensive damage. The head of Nelson was recovered, badly damaged but intact, and has now found a permanent home in the Reading Room of the Dublin City Library and Archive on Pearse Street, where he keeps an eye on the readers researching the history of his native city.
Above Left: Nelson's Pillar, 1966. Above Right: Nelson's head (click images to view larger versions)
The site of Nelson's Pillar is now occupied by The Spire.
These photos are from the Dublin City Photographic Collection. Visit our online Image Galleries.