THE hidden history of Wellington Monument has been revealed in a television programme shown on Channel 5.

The spotlight on the historic monument was included in an episode of the Secret of the National Trust series hosted by Alan Titchmarsh screened this month.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond was at the monument to discover more about its history for the programme.

She took great interest in the monument originally planned to be built following the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The foundation stone for the monument was laid in 1817 but building work stopped in 1829 because of a lack of money.

The Duke of Wellington died in 1852 and renewed efforts were made to build the monument before it was finally completed in 1890.

Now the monument is set to receive a major revamp to restore it to its original glory.

Jennie, speaking on social networking site Twitter, said: “It was a bit of a squeeze climbing up inside Wellington Monument. It was fun – but cold!” The Wellington Monument episode came in the fourth series of Secrets of the National Trust which explores some of the charity’s 500 houses and gardens, plus acres of coast and countryside in its care.