Stone

Nelson - SW19

Erection date: 1906

Inscription

As a memorial of Lord Nelson and the splendid services which he rendered to his country, this land (which formed part of his Merton Estate) was given on the first centenary of his death to the Merton Parish Council for a public recreation ground by a great nephew of the late rear admiral Isaac Smith of Merton Abbey.

"The death" to which this inscription refers is Nelson's, so the gift was made on 21 October 1905 though the gardens were not opened until the following year. The land for the neighbouring church was given at the same time and St John the Divine built in 1914.

Interesting that Mackerell chose to honour Nelson rather than his own, not insignificant nautical ancestor, Smith.

Site: Nelson - SW19 (1 memorial)

SW19, Merton Road, Nelson Gardens

Nelson Gardens lie within what were once the extensive grounds of Merton Place, Nelson's home, but these was never within the boundary of Merton Abbey. 

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Nelson - SW19

Subjects commemorated i

Merton Place

Country house, built about 1750 for Henry Pratt. Lord Nelson arrived here in ...

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Merton Parish Council

Merton was an ancient parish in the Brixton Hundred of Surrey. It was bounded...

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Horatio, Lord Nelson

Born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk. Naval commander who became a national hero a...

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Isaac Smith

Cousin to the wife of Captain James Cook, with whom he sailed to the South Pa...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Nelson - SW19

Created by i

J. Mackerell

Gave land in commemoration of Nelson in 1905.  Great nephew of Isaac Smith th...

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