Shared description

Wellington and cones

Nobody is quite sure exactly why or when (during the 1980s) the 'tradition' of placing a traffic cone on Wellington's head started, but it has now become a minor tourist attraction in its own right. Sadly, many come to see and photograph the cone without taking the time to appreciate the fine statue and its plinth which are Category A Listed LinkExternal link and are by Baron Marochetti in 1844.

The 2011 Lonely Planet guide featured the coned statue in its list of the ‘Top 10 Most Bizarre Monuments On Earth’.

In 2013, plans by Glasgow City Council to 'cone-proof' the statue by increasing the height of the plinth met with fierce local opposition and were quickly abandoned.

In recent years different flavours of cone have been used to mark various different events, including the 2014 independence referendum.
by Thomas Nugent

Created: Sun, 9 Sep 2018, Updated: Wed, 14 Dec 2022


36 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

NS5965 : Wellington with golden traffic cone by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington with Saltire by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Scotland supporter by Richard Sutcliffe
NS5965 : Wellington and traffic cones by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington with floral cone by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington at the GoMA by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Ibis Styles Glasgow by Richard Sutcliffe
NS5965 : Queen Street railway station mural by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Oor Wullie and Wellington, Royal Exchange Square by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington with rainbow cone by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington with Saltire by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington with traffic cones by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington and cone by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington and traffic cone by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Duke of Wellington statue with cone, Glasgow by JThomas
NS5965 : Wellington and traffic cones by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Duke of Wellington and cone by Richard Sutcliffe
NS5965 : Wellington's horse with traffic cone and gull by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Duke of Wellington and cone by Richard Sutcliffe
NS5965 : Wellington and traffic cones by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Duke of Wellington statue with two cones and gull by Richard Sutcliffe
NS5965 : Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington with Saltire by Thomas Nugent
NS5965 : Wellington with Saltire by Thomas Nugent

... and 11 more images.

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