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Mandela's statue in Parliament Square - a very fitting place for such a man.

We recently filmed the first production in our monthly web TV series in Brighton and I was blown away by the Chattri Monument - a memorial to the Indian soldiers who died fighting for Britain in the First World War. From the elevated position of the monument - situated on the beautiful South Downs - you can hear the constant rumble of traffic echoing from the roads below and you can look out over the city of Brighton all the way to the sea. The combination of its purpose and position make the Chattri Monument a very spiritual place indeed. On arrival I noticed two little piles of pebbles at either side of some steps leading up to the memorial and apparently visitors often feel compelled to make their own little artistic displays here. According to our host if you visit the monument more than once its likely you'll find something similar, or indeed something completely different left by other inspired visitors. More about the Chattri Monument on the video clip below...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_SAZ8c_VPQ

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Northy
Enjoy England Web Team

Hi Varangarian - whats your favourite????

I also like reading the war memorials in my local area. There is one next to the church and quite alot of the names on there still have family in the village. It brings it back to you how recently these men died and that we really shouldn't forget them. I guess that is the whole point of memorials.

Thanks to everyone for sending replies. Some interesting monuments there - Marble Arch gets a raw deal from its location, should be more appreciated.

If I had to pick one favourite monument, it would be the Imperial Camel Corps memorial in Victoria Embankment Gardens. After all those big statues of famous men on the grass, this is a charming little figure of a man in a pith helmet sitting on a camel, joining mere mortals on the path. If someone said "First World War" would you automatically think "Imperial Camel Corps"? Would you automatically think "camels" if someone said "Victoria Embankment"? The base of the monument has some nice reliefs of camel related battle scenes and information about the corps. A pearl hidden in plain sight in Central London.

Another favourite, for different reasons, is also on the Embankment. It is the statue of Lord Portal of Hungerford outside the main Ministry of Defence building. He is depicted in his Air Force uniform, striding forwards with his nose in the air as if he is on parade. Usually when you go past, a pigeon has dropped something on his head. It is as if he is looking up at the sky saying, "Right, who did that? Which one of you was it? You can't do this to me you know, I'm head of the Royal Air Force!"

Elsewhere, I have never got over my childish delight in the Coventry Clock. When the hour strikes, three doors under the clock open. Lady Godiva rides naked on horseback from the right hand one to the left hand one, while Peeping Tom pokes his head out of the one above. Thankfully Political Correctness has not claimed this charming memorial to one of Coventry's central historical events. The legend of Godiva and Peeping Tom is probably true as well!

How about the Angel of the North?