Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Westminster, Greater London
Wellington Arch (formerly known as Green Park Arch and Constitution Arch) was designed by Decimus Burton and built between 1826 and 1830 to commemorate Britain's victories over Napoleonic France. This triumphal arch was commissioned by George IV in 1825 as a grand outer entrance to Buckingham Palace but the design had to be changed as the scheme was over budget. The arch was moved to the present location in 1882 as a result of a road widening scheme. In 1912, a bronze sculpture was placed on top of the monumentd. It shows a winged Victory (or Angel of Peace ) landing behind a chariot drawn by four horses guided by a boy. From as early as 1831, the inside of the arch accommodated the park gate-keeper and the police. In the 20th century it housed London's smallest police station, serving as a 'section house' for policing the area around Constitution Hill. After a £1.5 million repair project, undertaken by English Heritage between 1999 and 2000, the arch was opened to the public with three floors of display space and a viewing balcony. It is now (2011) in the care of English Heritage.
