Duke of York's Column
Waterloo Place, Carlton House Terrace. just off The Mall. London SW1

This impressive 124 ft monument was erected in 1833 to the glory of Frederick, second son of George III.   The Duke is best remembered as being the 'Grand Old Duke of York' , who marched his 10,000 men to the top of the hill and marched them down again. 

To pay for his own monument, the Duke docked every soldier in the army a day's wages, as the Duke was very popular they didn't seem to mind. 

Originally the memorial was to have been a replica of Trajin's Column in Rome but the army pay was not sufficient to allow the Duke to clad the monument in relief sculptures. 

The great height of the column caused wits to suggest that the Duke was trying to escape his creditors, as he died £2 million in debt.