Nelson’s spare nose, London
Nelson’s Column is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks; a huge column topped by a slightly haughty statue of the naval hero, his nose in the air.
But it’s said that that very nose has a twin, in case it was damaged and had to be replaced. And that the twin is within spitting distance of the statue on nearby Admiralty Arch. Sure enough, there is indeed a lonely lump of stone resembling a nose there, about seven feet above the ground inside the far northern arch.
Other stories exist to explain the protuberance, however. One claims it’s there to honour the Duke of Wellington, who famously had a large nose. Mounted soldiers would apparently rub the nose for luck. Another explanation is that it’s part of a modern stunt, with several more stone hooters scattered through London.
Photo and story courtesy of Generator Hostels.
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[...] favourite as The Overcoat but a close enough second. I was thinking about it today as I came across this useless fact: Admiral Nelson of Trafalgar Square has a spare nose lodging up the side of Admiralty [...]