National Trust Press Release
Issued: 12 January 2021
Share your memories in aid of the Wellington Monument project
This New Year, the National Trust are inviting the public to send in and share their memories or wishes for the future in the form of a letter. The letters, a twist on a time capsule, will then be sealed between the stones of the monument during the repairs.
The project to repair Wellington Monument has now reached its final phase, the National Trust are inviting people to send a letter of love or a story of their time at Wellington Monument.
Emma Jones Community Engagement and Fundraising officer said: ‘Our team of volunteers have done an amazing job of promoting the project and thanks to the generosity of the those visiting and other donations, they have raised £3,500 from people donating in return for a small fragment of stone from the monument.’
Over the past few years, during fundraising for the conservation project, the National Trust has been overwhelmed with stories from visitors of their connections to the monument.
Emma Jones continued: ‘However we still have a way to go and are hoping that Memories in the Monument will help us complete the project. If we were to exceed funds needed for the project, donations would be used for other vital works at the monument site’
Memories in the Monument is an opportunity for visitors and those who have a connection with this special place to write a letter of love, a memory or perhaps a story of their time at the monument. The letter will then be placed between the stones by our conservation team, Sally Strachey Historic Conservation.
Emma continued: ‘We still have plenty of space for more letters to be placed in the heart of the monument. Please help us to keep the spirit of storytelling alive and secure the future monument. A card of thanks to mark your contribution will be sent in return for your letter and donation.’
Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton Deane and a champion for the restoration project said: ‘Wherever I go in the constituency people share their stories in relation to the Monument; tales of marriage proposals made beneath it, picnics held and carols sung; and I have my own special memories too. Making these wonderful local links with this historic landmark through the Memories in a Monument Appeal brings it back to life and highlights the place it holds in peoples’ memories. The appeal will also be making an important contribution to getting to the final total needed to complete this remarkable project.’
The National Trust are asking for a suggested minimum donation of £25 for each letter received.
The Wellington Monument project is heading towards completion, due early summer 2021, however the National Trust still has a need to fundraise towards the completion of the project, as well as to ensure the long-term future of the monument.
If you would like to share your memory, please write it down (on no larger than A5 sized paper) and share it with us via post or email. Please send your memory by the end of February 2021. For details please email: Wellington.Monument@nationaltrust.org.uk or visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/wellington-monument
