Wellington Arch
The Wellington Arch , also known as Constitution Arch or (originally) the Green Park Arch , is a triumphal arch at the traffic junction Hyde Park Corner at the southeast end of Hyde Park in London . Together with the nearby Marble Arch , it was commissioned by George IV in 1825 to commemorate the British victories in the Napoleonic Wars . The Wellington Arch was also intended as an outer gateway to Constitution Hill and thus as a large portal to the city center from the west.
Wellington Arch was built between 1826 and 1830 based on plans by Decimus Burton . Originally it stood directly across from Apsley House . In 1846 a 8.50 meter high statue of Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , was placed on the arch . 1882–83 the arch was moved to its current location in Hyde Park Corner. The statue of the Duke was brought to Aldershot and replaced in 1912 by a massive bronze quadriga , the largest bronze sculpture in Europe.
The arch housed a police station until 1992. Since 1999 the monument has belonged to the English Heritage , which has set up an exhibition on the history and use of the arch.
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Coordinates: 51 ° 30 ′ 9 ″ N , 0 ° 9 ′ 3 ″ W.