Horse Blocks - Waterloo Place, London, UK
N 51° 30.419 W 000° 07.922
30U E 699024 N 5710105
There are two horse blocks in Waterloo Place in London. One is on the pavement on the north east side and the other is on the pavement on the south west side.
Waymark Code: WMD0TC
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/03/2011
Views: 12
Both horse blocks, used for mounting and dismounting horses and probably for entering/leaving carriages, have plaques attached with the inscription:
This horse block was erected by desire of
The Duke of Wellington. 1830
The blocks are Grade II listed with the entry at the Historic England website advising:
Two mounting blocks on kerbs outside south east and 5.2.70 south west corners respectively of the Athenaeum and the Institute of Directors GV II Mounting blocks. Dated 1830. Granite. The stepped granite blocks are each inscribed "This horse block was erected by desire of the Duke of Wellington 1830".
This granite mounting block is often said to have been put here to help Wellington get on his horse in old age. More charitably, the 6’2” Iron Duke had it erected to help shorter men mount their horses.
The given co-ordinates are for the north east block. The other block is at 51° 20.410'N; 000° 07.948'W.