How Glasgow’s Duke Of Wellington Statue Got Traffic Cone On Head?

The equestrian Duke of Wellington statue is a well-known symbol of Glasgow. It is the city’s pride and joy. The statue was put up in 1844 to honor Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. It was made by the Italian artist Carlo Marochetti. But the Duke’s favorite hat, an orange traffic cone, will always be bigger than him.

Table of Contents

The cone is an important part of the city, and it shows that Glaswegians and Scots have a great sense of humor. This cone is much more than just a cone; it’s a symbol of Glasgow. It was included in the 2011 Lonely Planet guide’s list of the “Top 10 Most Bizarre Monuments On Earth,” which adds to its fun, countercultural appeal.

How Glasgow’s Duke Of Wellington Statue Got Traffic Cone On Head? — The Duke Of Wellington Statue | © Paul Walter/Flickr

Facts about Duke of Wellington

But how did this cone thing start? Like many times in Scots history, the lines are blurry, so it’s best to stick to the facts instead of getting caught up in small details. The Duke’s cone-shaped hat was seen for the first time on record in the 1980s. People say that the practice of “cone-capping,” which has been around forever, started after a great night out filled with alcohol.

Traffic Cone On Head

After a night of dancing, a group of locals got a little tipsy and thought it would be funny to put a cone on the statue’s head. The moral of the story is that one prank can turn into a rite of passage and a long-standing local tradition, just like the deep-fried Mars Bar. Locals were even brave enough to switch the Duke’s cone for a more elegant gold one in honor of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Glasgow.

In the end, a frustrated Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Police showed up because a Category-A listed monument will always get worn down after it has been capped. It was against the law to mess with the statue. As the cost of removing the cone was said to be £10,000 per year, with each removal costing £100, the council decided that the only way to fix the problem was to double the height of the plinth to about six feet as part of a £65,000 restoration project. This would make it impossible for anyone to mess with the cone again. They had the wrong idea.

The plot got more complicated as soon as people in the area heard about it. The people got together and asked the council for help. In just 24 hours, they got 10,000 people to sign. Not only that, but a Facebook campaign called “Keep the Cone” got a lot of attention when more than 72,000 people liked it in just 24 hours. There was also a rally. People won, of course, because there was so much opposition to putting out the cone that it could no longer be ignored.

Even though a fancy CCTV system was set up to catch cone-cappers, the traffic cone is the reason why Glasgow is what it is today. If you need a pick-me-up or a good laugh, go see the Duke of Wellington in all his glory, cone and all. He is a great example of how funny Glaswegians are. Don’t let it go.

Topic: How Glasgow’s Duke Of Wellington Statue Got Traffic Cone On Head?

Join the “I Left My Heart in Scotland” in Our Community on Facebook. A place where members can be honest with each other, share their stories and travel photos, and try out a new way to see Scotland together.