Duke of Wellington Statue with Traffic Cone, Glasgow
It took me a year to wait, and over six months before I realised this photo isn’t on my website but I now can finally bring you the photograph of the Duke of Wellington and the story of his mysterious traffic cone hat. Last summer I took the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow for the primary purpose of capturing this image. The statue stands outside the Gallery of Modern Art, sometimes referred to as GoMA.
The traffic cone is not Photoshoped on (although the photo has been covered to black and white, with the cone kept red to make it stand out more. It is permanently on the Duke’s head and for many years the authorities regularly removed cones, only for them to be replaced (usually the following night) by someone climbing the nearly 20 foot statue. This statue and his traffic cone has come to represent (particularly in tourist guidebooks) the city’s light-hearted attitude to authority, and the city authorities no longer remove Wellington’s cone hat.
I found out about this statue when researching the photograph below of David Hume taken on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, this “coning” is not accepted by the Edinburgh authorities and when I went back this summer to try and photograph Hume with his cone, it was gone. Still, the Duke of Wellington was the original traffic coned statue.
| This entry was posted by Ed O'Keeffe on 9 January, 2008 at 8:21 am, and is filed under Glasgow, Scotland. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 2 years ago
I do not think this is very respectful.In doing this to his monument is virtually desecrating his name.In my solemn opinion, I think these ‘people’ have absolutely no respect.I’m a a 12 y.o. american, [unfortunately] and I think I have more respect for his memory.That’s just my opinion.Please take no offense.
about 1 year ago
just a quick response to the previous comment.
I am from glasgow, and this is not disrespectful of the mans memory. However the authorities have chosen to leave the cone there now as it has become not only a tourist sight but almost a part of our culture now. as stated in the info about the photo, ed has traveled to glasgow just to take this photo, it would be stupid for the council to remove it now.
about 11 months ago
Regina,
I don't know why you say unfortunately. Hopefully you aren't saying it is unfortunate that you're an American. As far as Wellington, lighten up. You're only 12. It's actually comical. Irreverence doesn't necessarily mean a lack of respect.
about 11 months ago
Your parents should be ashamed of you and themselves for not teaching you better! You are an American “unfortunately”, unfortunately for me you are an American! I incourage you to move to another country when you turn 18yrs old. Men and Women have given up their lives to make The United States Of America what it is today. Feel free to leave if you don't like it.
about 11 months ago
Your parents should be ashamed of you and themselves for not teaching you better! You are an American “unfortunately”, unfortunately for me you are an American! I incourage you to move to another country when you turn 18yrs old. Men and Women have given up their lives to make The United States Of America what it is today. Feel free to leave if you don't like it.
about 8 months ago
wanker
about 6 months ago
I totally agree with the comments re being disrespectful the the memory of this great man The Duke of Welington. However having served in the British Army for 28 years and having served with several Scottish Regiments I have come to accept this kind of disrespectful behaviour from Scottish youths regarding anything that is not of their era or taste.
about 5 months ago
Its glasgow wit u gawny expect
about 3 months ago
i went to Glasgow over the weekend on holiday with my girlfriend Lorraine, my brother and his wife. we saw the statue of Duke of Wellington. until i saw this article, i thought someone been messing around and placed a cone on the statue's head. i will post the picture when its ready. thanks for this article and piece of information.
about 2 months ago
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, regardless of their age…
about 2 months ago
Nope. A sense of entitlement, even to opinions, is the source of many of our problems in society. I could agree with that everyone is entitled to an opinion on something personal and subjective. A favorite color or type of pet, for instance.
But when someone is criticizing a nation that offers such a high level of wealth and personal freedom, the lack of perspective of being that young contributes in part to that. Although many much older still don't see what this nation has to offer.
That wasn't where I was going with that, however, you just assumed that. If you read the post CAREFULLY I said a 12 year old shouldn't be that serious about life.
about 3 weeks ago
It’s even better when the horse has a cone on his head too. Double Whammy!
As for disrespect; you obviously don’t understand Glaswegian culture. I doubt most people know much about the Duke of Wellington as they pass by his statue. Whoever the statue is of is irrelevant; it could be of the Queen and she’d still get a cone on her head. Not because she’s disrespected, but because it’s Glasgow.