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Cádiz Memorial

Cádiz Memorial
Cádiz Memorial, London.jpg
The memorial in 2015
Location London, United Kingdom
Material Brass, bronze
Opening date 1816 (1816)

The Cádiz Memorial, also known as the "Prince Regent's Bomb", is an early 19th century French mortar mounted on a brass monster, located in Horse Guards Parade in Westminster, London. It was first "exposed to public view" on 12 August 1816 and has been classified as a Grade II listed building since 1 December 1987. The monument was a feature of many satirical verses and cartoons in the early 19th century, mainly because the word "bomb" – pronounced "bum" – gave it an immediate association with the notoriously profligate Prince Regent's sizeable backside.

The mortar is mounted on the back of a large brass sculpture of the monster Geryon (wrongly described as a "Chinese dragon" in some sources), associated with the Isle of Gades on which Cádiz stands, with twin tails twisting round to the vent of the mortar which it supports on its back. At the rear of the mortar is a sculpture of the dog Orthrus. Some liberties were taken with the classical depiction of Geryon, such as substituting wings for its multiple heads. The monster and mortar rest on a bed of brass measuring some 9 feet 2 inches (2.79 m) by 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m), representing a rock on which the monster has alighted. The whole structure measures 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m) high and weights 16 tons. On the north side of the bed is the following inscription:

DEVICTIS A WELLINGTON DUCE PROPE SALAMANCAM GALLIS
SOLUTAQUE EXIUDE GAUDIAM OBSIDIONE, HANC QUAM ASPICITUS
BASI SUPERIMPOSITAM BOMBARDAM, VI PRAEDITAM ADHUC INAUDITA,
AD URBEM PORTUMQUE GADITANUM DESTRUCUDUM CONFLATAM
ET A COPIIS TURBATIS RELICTAM, CORTES HISPANICI, PRISTINORUM HAUDQUAQUAM
BENEFICIORUM OBLITI, SUMMAE VENERATIONIS TESTIMINIO DONAVERUNT
GEORGIO ILLUS. BRIT. PRINC.
QUI, IN PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM, HOC LOCO PONENDAM, ET HIS
ORMANENTIS DECORANDAM, JUISSIT.

While on the south side the following inscription appears:

To commemorate
the Raising of the Siege of Cadiz, in consequence of the
Glorious Victory obtained by the
Duke of Wellington
over the French at Salamanca, on the 22d July 1812:
This Mortar, cast for the destruction of that Great Port,
with Powers surpassing all others,
and abandoned by the Besiegers on their Retreat,
was presented as a token of respect and gratitude by the
Spanish Nation,
To his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.

The Prince of Wales's feathers appear in high relief at the front of the bed, while at the rear is the inscription, "Constructed in the Royal Carriage Department. Earl of Mulgrave, Master General – A.D. 1814".


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