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Nelson Gate

The grade II listed Nelson Gate forms the southerly access into the grounds of Duncombe Park estate in North Yorkshire. The grounds of the estate are a grade I Registered Park and Garden and there are a number of additional listed structures within the grounds.

The memorial is in the form of a triumphal arch gateway and constructed of sandstone ashlar blocks with attached curtain walls.

An application to the Grants for War Memorials Scheme was received in September 2010. The application was for funding towards a programme of repair and replacement to the memorial. The sandstone of the memorial, particularly to the pillars, had been heavily eroded through weathering and damaged by the iron cramps originally used in the construction. In addition to this no provision had been made for the prevention of water penetration when the structure was constructed. As such a new solution was required, it was originally suggested that this would be in the form of a lead capping. However, as the project progressed it was deemed more appropriate to instead provide a damp proof course under the top stones as this would be less visually intrusive.

A grant was awarded for £20,000 towards a project costing £96,174. Additional funding was awarded from a number of organizations including the Yorkshire Gardens Trust and the North York Moors National Park Authority.

A more conservative scheme for consolidation of the memorial received listed building consent in 1997. However, this was never implemented and by the time of the application was considered insufficient to address the condition of the structure. As such a programme of indent and replacement stone was agreed.

The structure incorporates two inscribed friezes at the top of the arch. These read:

‘To the memory of Lord Viscount Nelson
And the unparalleled gallant achievements of the British Navy
1806’

and

‘Lamented Hero!
O price his conquering country grieved to pay!
O dear brought glories of Trafalgar’s day!’

The metal gates of the arch are not original to the structure. The original gates were removed during the World War I and the replacements were forged by local blacksmith W. Dowson and introduced in the 1920s/30s. The south pier to the gate/wall was rebuilt during World War II after the army removed it to allow tank access.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM3706
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 30587

The National Heritage List

North York Moors National Park

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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