From The Times this morning (26 July):
Sir,
Further to the letter regarding Thomas Sutton, the town surveyor for Nelson's Monument in Great Yarmouth, he did not jump from the top after a heart attack. He was carried down all the spiral steps, as one would expect. The only person to fall from the top of the monument was an actor-entertainer named Charles Marsh in 1863. Marsh decided to entertain the crowds by performing some 'gambols'. He climbed out onto Britannia's shoulders, but when attempting to climb back on to the viewing platform, he slipped and fell the 144 feet to his death. The local paper gave grisly details.
Regarding Britannia's position, nobody really knows why she faces inland. There have been many theories over the years, but none has been proved or disproved. I would be surprised, however, to find that Great Yarmouth faces France - I rather thought we faced the Netherlands.
Faith Carpenter
Curator, Norfolk Nelson Museum
Great Yarmouth
www.nelson-museum.co.uk