Description
The column is of the Tuscan order. It is built of granite from Aberdeenshire; a light grey variety was used for the pedestal, a bluer grey type for the base of the shaft, and red Peterhead granite for the rest of the structure. There is an iron railing around the abacus of the capital. At the centre of the capital, on a plinth, is a bronze statue of the duke dressed in the robes of the Knights of the Garter, by Sir Richard Westmacott. It is 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) tall, weighs 16,840 pounds (7,640 kg) and was raised on 8 April 1834.
The total height of the monument to the top of the statue is 137 ft 9 in (41.99 m). The statue is faces southeast, towards the The Mall and St. James's Park.
Inside the hollow column a spiral staircase of 168 steps, lit by apertures in the outside wall, leads to the viewing platform around the base of the statue. This means of ascent has been closed to the public for many decades.
The great height of the column caused wits to suggest that the Duke was trying to escape his creditors, as the Duke died £2 million in debt.
Read more about this topic: Duke Of York Column
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