Funders and supporters of the £3.1 million Wellington Monument project gathered at the site on Friday (September 3) as the National Trust thanked them for their contributions to the two-year repair project. 

In parrticular, the National Trust’s director general Hilary McGrady thanked MP Rebecca Pow for her ’vital’ support, and John Greenshields whose contributions as a volunteer at the monument had been ’outstanding’. 

Ms Pow said to the gathering: "It was such a treat to be able to climb the exquisitely restored stairway right to the top of the structure at the opening. 

"I vowed to support the project to restore the iconic Wellington Monument and I am absolutely delighted at this remarkable success story. Having secured the initial £1 million from the Libor Fund during my first term in Parliament, I backed the campaign to reach the £3.1m total.

"I worked with the National Trust and together we secured additional grants, superb community support and the Duke of Wellington’s keen interest as the restoration progressed."

Also present at the ceremony was Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England which awarded £1.08m to the project, including £736k from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

The project was also awarded £500k by National Highways and £100k from Viridor Environmental Credits whose grant went towards the repair of the pyramidion - the triangular top of the monument. 

And funding was received from the Chancellor using LIBOR funds, Somerset West and Taunton Council, Wellington Town Council and the War Memorial Trust. 

 Helen Sharp, project manager, said: "After celebrating the completion of the project at our online event last week with a special moment for the local community when we lit the monument for the first time since works began, we were thrilled to welcome this group of key supporters and representatives to see first-hand the work that their generosity has enabled." 

Tours of the inside of the monument are now available and can be booked online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wellington-monument.    

 PIC

Pictured from the left are MP Rebecca Pow, director general of the National Trust Hilary McGrady, Wellington Monument volunteer John Greenshields, and chief executive of Historic England Duncan Wilson.