| Summary: | Elvwarchaeology was commissioned as part of Emily Wapshott’s community heritage volunteer works within Great Torrington, to undertake a brief heritage assessment of the Battle of Waterloo Monument on Great Torrington Commons. This work aimed to produce an advisory document in advance of a scheme of potential restoration and repair which may result, depending on the level of intervention required, in seeking planning permission and listed building consent.
The monument is unusual in that it was raised through subscription by the ‘Ladies of Torrington’ to broadly honour and celebrate the victory of the ‘heroes’ at Waterloo in 1815, rather than any specific person(s); the need for time to raise the money and design the structure meaning it wasn’t raised until 1818. It is not known if any men from the town were directly involved in the battle but a North Devon Yeomanry company was raised in the period by John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle, who was also associated with the South Devon Militia and Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry. Supposedly French Prisoners of War were billeted in the wider area, involved in labour projects in and around the town, such as the cobbled paths in the graveyard, dated 1813. The Heritage Museum also retains several French trading coins of the period, which may be associated with such men.
The obelisk is intentionally designed to be impressive, combining an unusual and somewhat quirky mix of Egyptian-influenced, Gothic Revival architecture. Although accomplished in a somewhat workaday quality it is effective and successful in its intended function; it both represents the aspirational intentions of the Great Torrington community, adopting the fashions specific to the period and yet reflects its regional location, built of vernacular materials.
Holding associational and historical value, with its connections to the Battle of Waterloo and possibly early 19th century Devon-based militias and highlighting interesting potential further research questions such as the examination of the role of historic female-led community action groups in the town, the obelisk is confirmed in its significance both locally and nationally. |
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