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Hardy Monument

The Hardy Monument was erected in memory of Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy. Hardy was captain of HMS Victory during the Battle Of Trafalgar. Admiral Nelson was shot as he paced the deck of Victory with Hardy. Nelson was carried below, and at some point as he lay dying Nelson is supposed to have said "kiss me Hardy."

Vice Admiral Hardy was born in the village of Portesham in Dorset, less than a mile from the monument which was built in his honour five years after his death in 1839. He was a distant relative of the novelist Thomas Hardy, who would have been able to see the monument from the window of his cottage in Higher Bockhampton as he worked on Under The Greenwood Tree, and Far From The Madding Crowd in the 1870s. Today the view is blocked by trees.

Opening Times: The building is now owned by the National Trust, and is open 5th April to 28th September on Bank Holiday Mondays and weekends 11am to 5pm. Visitors can climb to the top and admire the beautiful views. An idea of the views is given in the pictures below:

 

 

 

 

View to the south: Portland is on the right

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View to the north

 

Directions: The monument sits in a lovely location high above the Dorset coast. Turn off the B3157 at Portesham and follow signs to Hardy Monument. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on the Hardy Monument.

Access: the ground surrounding the monument is uneven, and only partly accessible for someone in a wheelchair. The monument itself has fifty steps leading to the top and is not accessible for those with mobility problems.

 

 

 

Contact:

phone National Trust West Dorset Office: 01297 561900

web site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk