Nelson & His World

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We are about as far as you can get from the sea - but Birmingham has to be commended for its commemoration of Nelson and Trafalgar.

The heritage is a proud one:

Nelson visited Birmingham (with Emma and Sir William) in the late summer of 1802. He made a great impression on the people. He stood in the main street and drank a toast: "Success to the town and trade of Birmingham and prosperity to its inhabitants".

Emma wrote a thank you letter to her hosts and said: "I will never forget Birmingham and it's dear, dear people".

There was a Birmingham man on all 28 ships-of the-line at Trafalgar.

Birmingham erected the first statue to Nelson in the U.K.

The Trafalgar Day ceremony (this year on Sunday 25th) seems to grow every year. I am sure there is nothing to compare outside of possibly London and/or Portsmouth.

This year the Trafalgar Day ceremony is exactly 200 years to the day from the original unveiling of Birmingham's Nelson statue. To commemorate that anniversary we have organised a display in the Central Library showing the 200 year history of the statue and the central role it has played in the lives of Birmingham people. It will run from Monday 26th October.

So - anyone within striking distance of Birmingham:

You are cordially invited to join us for the Trafalgar Day ceremony. Proceedings commence at 10.30 a.m. at the Nelson Statue in the Bull Ring.

And/or take a look at the exhibition in the Central Library which will be in place for at least the next 4 weeks. The first display boards will be opposite the entrance to the Lending Library and continue in the Local Studies and History Department.

MB

What an interesting post, Mark!

Any chance of an image of the Nelson Statue?

Do you know, I lived in Birmingham for a year, and never even noticed the Nelson statue - that was before I 'saw the light', of course.

I've found a pic and some more interesting information about this statue, some of it requiring authentication. Over to you, Mark!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_ ... Birmingham

Anna

I'm not surprised you were unaware of the Nelson statue during your time in Birmingahm.

I imagine that was during the days of the "first new Bull Ring". During that era he was relocated to a balcony affair overlooking the open air market.

It was quite a pleasant area when the Bull Ring first opened - but ran rapidly down hill.

So you had to actively seek him out - and then when you found him there was no temptation to linger.

Thankfully those dark days are now long gone.

He is now in a very attractive location.

Viewed from one direction he has the ancient St Martin's Church in the background and from another the post-modern Selfridge store.

In my mind he has rarely looked better!

Regarding the Wikipedia entry. I am pretty sure that everything there is correct. I know the chap who made the entry (I happened to meet up with him less than a week ago). You can be sure I would have taken him to task if there were any errors or inaccuracies!!

MB

Mark,

I have to say that it is a beautiful statue.

I'm intrigued though by what looks like a yardarm protruding from Victory's fo'c's'le! I noticed too that the figurehead has been changed for either Britannia, or as I imagine, the figure of Victory. This might sound sacriligeous, but perhaps this would have been more fitting for the actual ship, rather than either the first, and colossal, figurehead of George lll with its various appendages, or the later, and present one with the Georgian Royal Arms.

I wonder too, if the railings around the base are supposed to represent boarding pikes? They look very much like them and would fit with the rope.

Anna

Here is one of my favourite photos of the statue - which by happy coincidence clearly show 2 of the issues that Kester is referring to.



Kester

Very pertinent that you questioned what appeared to be a piece of yardarm.

When the statue was unveiled (200 years ago tomorrow!) a descriptive leaflet was printed and distributed. I have never tracked down an original - but I know the wording which included the following:


So there you have it!!

Also quite correct that the railings represent boarding pikes joined by rope.

There used to be lampposts at the four corners which were sadly discarded in the 1960's. The bases were upturned cannon (not from Victory as some believe) and the uprights represented a cluster of boarding pikes.

By a combination of luck and determination a friend actually located 2 of the cannon, still with the people who had acquired them over 40 years ago.

He negotiated to have them returned to Birmingham and restored. Hopefully they will be on display at the Trafalgar ceremony tomorrow. I have a dream that one day we can get them displayed permanently alongside the statue - but that is a project for the future!!

MB

Mark,

I was close then! Good luck with your dream!

Was going to upload some pictures of Birmingham's Trafalgar Day ceremony - but someone beat me to it.

Hope you enjoy these

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 2c19538462

MB

Many thanks for the link, Mark.

Widening the commemorations a little, there was a ceremony also in Trafalgar Square in London today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8324892.stm

The General Service Medal of a Royal Marine who was wounded at Trafalgar and lay alongside Lord Nelson has gone on display in an exhibition to mark Trafalgar Day. The medal was sold at auction for £41,000, and secured by the Royal Naval Museum.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hamp ... 681881.stm

A little article here from today's Birmingham Mail:

Click here

MB