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Grey marble Doric column on foundation stone surmounted by railed platform enclosing circular plinth on which stands a bronze statue of the Marquess in his uniform as colonel of the 7th Hussars. The column is built of grey marble quarried at Moelfre, near Red Wharf Bay, on the north coast of Anglesey. The architect of the column was Thomas Harrison of Chester and the sculptor of the statue, erected forty-three years later, was Matthew Noble. The platform at the top of the column is reached by a spiral staircase (115 steps).

A meeting was held in Beaumaris in September 1815 to consider how to commemorate the military achievements of the Marquess and to show the county's appreciation. It was decided to erect a monument on Cerrig y Borth from where it would be visible from Arfon as well as Anglesey. Within three weeks over £860 had been raised with the Prince Regent amongst the donors. The foundation stone was laid on the first anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and work was completed by September 1817. In 1859, five years after the death of the Marquess, a new fund was opened by 'his friends and admirers' to erect a lasting memorial and it was decided to place a statue on the column. This took place in November 1860 and a copper engraving on the statue's pedestal records the engineering work involved which was planned by a local man, Mr. Haslam, of Carreg Bran, Anglesey.

Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (1768-1854). Educated at Westminster and Oxford. Entered Parliament at 22 and at 25 he raised the 80th Regiment. In 1794 he fought with his regiment in Flanders. Three years later he became lieutenant-colonel of the 7th Hussars. In 1812 he succeeded his father as Earl of Uxbridge. In 1815 he was appointed commander of the Allied cavalry in the Netherlands and was second-in-command to Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 during which he lost his right leg. He was created Marquess of Anglesey for his services. In 1828 he became Viceroy of Ireland under Wellington although relieved the following year because of his advocacy of Catholic Emancipation. He went to Ireland again in 1830 under Lord Grey's Whig administration and retired through ill-health in 1833. Thirteen years later he again became Master General in Lord John Russell's administration and was made a Field Marshal in the same year, 1846. He did not relinquish office until he was 84, two years before his death.

circa

raw year

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At risk

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Signatures

Column

Grey marble

3048cm

Statue

Bronze

366cm

No damage

Limited view

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Limited view

Graffiti

Scratching on copper engraving fixed to pedestal of statue