Wellington’s Horse Block

The 1st Duke Of Wellington (1769 – 1852) is one of the country’s most famous soldiers and statesmen.

He defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and served as Prime Minister... twice.

One piece of the Duke's legacy remains on a busy London street, with thousands passing it each day unaware of it even being there.

However, those that do take a look at it may notice that it is in fact a mounting step to get on and off of horses. During the Duke’s tenure as Prime Minister he was a regular at the Athenaeum Club, of which the original building still stands today.

As the transport of choice for many in the 1800s, the Duke used to arrive at the club on horseback. In 1830 – six years after the club was founded – Prime Minister Wellesley suggested the club should erect some mounting stones to assist in getting on and off horses. Then the Duke was in his 60s, and he would not have been as amble as he once was so the stones would have encouraged a more graceful dismount.

And here we are, 186 years later. The stones remains on the kerb.

On the stone a rusty plaque reads: ‘This horseblock was erected by desire of the Duke of Wellington 1830.’