Nelson Memorial, Swarland facts for kids
The Nelson Memorial in Swarland is a tall, white stone tower called an obelisk. You can find it in Swarland, a place in northern Northumberland, England. This monument was built in 1807. That was two years after the famous British naval hero, Horatio Nelson, died. Nelson was the winner of the big sea battle known as the Battle of Trafalgar.
A man named Alexander Davison put up this memorial. He was a good friend of Nelson's and sometimes worked as his agent. Davison owned a large estate in Swarland, where a grand house called Swarland Hall once stood. The Nelson Memorial is considered a Grade II listed monument, which means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
This memorial is a bit hidden today. It stands near the old A1 road, which was once the main road between Morpeth and Alnwick.
Contents
The Story Behind the Memorial
Nelson and Davison's Friendship
Alexander Davison became very wealthy in the late 1700s. He traveled to a place called Quebec in Canada. There, he met a young Horatio Nelson, who was 24 years old at the time. Nelson was in charge of a ship called HMS Albemarle. The ship was docked in Quebec City during the American Revolutionary War, also known as the War of American Independence. Nelson and Davison became good friends.
Later in life, Nelson asked Davison to be his agent. Davison helped Nelson with legal matters, especially those about sharing the money and goods taken from enemy ships during battles.
Other Nelson Tributes at Swarland
The obelisk isn't the only thing at Swarland that remembers Nelson. There are also groups of trees on the estate. One line of trees is planted to look like the Nile delta, which is where the Nile River splits into many branches before reaching the sea. Other groups of trees show where the French and British ships were during another important battle, the Battle of the Nile. There are also similar tree plantings called the Nile Clumps near Amesbury, which also remember the Battle of the Nile.
What the Obelisk Says
The Nelson Memorial has three messages carved into it. They are written from the top to the bottom:
- England expects every man to do his duty
* This is a very famous signal that Nelson sent to his fleet before the Battle of Trafalgar. It means that everyone should do their best for their country.
- Victory 21 October 1805
* This date marks the day of the Battle of Trafalgar, where Nelson led the British fleet to a great victory.
- Not to Commemorate the Public Virtues and Heroic Achievements of Nelson, which is the duty of England; But to the Memory of Private Friendship, this erection is dedicated by Alexander Davison, Swarland Hall
* This last message explains that the memorial isn't just to celebrate Nelson's public achievements, which England should do. Instead, it's a special tribute from Alexander Davison to remember their personal friendship.
The Memorial Today
Building this memorial was a very important moment for Alexander Davison's social standing. However, he later faced difficulties and lost his high position.
Today, the memorial is not as well-known because the main road has changed. The A1 road that passes Swarland is now a dual carriageway, which is a wider road with two lanes going in each direction. Davison's obelisk is on the old A1 road, which is now only used by local cars. It's also hidden from the main road by a group of trees.
The monument and the area around it were cleaned up and made better by local groups around 2003. A special plaque was also put up at that time.
Images for kids
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Davison's obelisk celebrating Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, at Swarland, Northumberland
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The main inscription on the obelisk
