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Although it may be a bit of a walk through the woods in Grant Park and up to Nelson’s Tower, on a clear day it’s definitely worth the journey as the views from the top of the tower across Findhorn Bay and onto the Moray Firth are simply magnificent.
Standing tall on the shoulder of Cluny Hill and erected by public subscription, construction of Nelson’s Tower began in 1806 to commemorate Admiral Lord Nelson and his victory at Trafalgar and reflects the patriotic pride in the naval victory and relief that the international trade on which the Forres merchants relied was made somewhat safer.
Nelson’s Tower, Image used with kind permission of G Laird – Creative Commons Lic.
Keep your eyes open as you walk in the woods and you may spot some of the ditches and ramparts of the large prehistoric hill fort which once stood here and was one of the power centres controlled by the real King Macbeth, Mormaer (Earl) of the Province of Moray, in the early 11th century in Shakespeare’s play, is a traitor who is very swiftly killed by the son of the king he has just murdered. It makes a good story, but the reality is rather different.
Born in 1005, Macbeth died in 1057, after 17 years on the throne. His reign was not always peaceful, and he died from wounds received in battle, but he did think his power base strong enough to leave Scotland and undertake a pilgrimage in Rome in 1050 and he was referred to in contemporary records as a generous king.
Macbeth was based in Moray both before and during his reign, and it is believed that he may have been based in a fort here on Cluny Hill.
Standing high on Cluny Hill, Nelson’s Tower looks down, with some presence, over Forres. Erected by public subscription, the tower was built as a memorial to Admiral Lord Nelson. The foundation stone was laid by James Brodie of Brodie on 26th August 1806 with coins and a parchment being laid beneath it. The Forres Volunteers then fired three volleys into the air and the procession marched off down the hill for a celebration dinner in the town.
However, the costs of the subsequent works were such that two further calls were made to subscribers, in 1807 and 1810, to complete the structure. In the meanwhile, many of the subscribers joined together to form The Trafalgar Club to celebrate annually the famous naval victory. Finally, on Trafalgar Day, 21st October 1812, at 1:00 p.m. the flag was run up and the tower opened to the public. To celebrate the opening, a couple of four-pounder cannon had been donated and these fired a 21-gun salute.
The cannon were said to have been with the fleet at the bombardment of Alexandria and can still be seen today at the entrance door to the tower. In the years following the opening, the Trafalgar Club accepted a number of gifts from patrons including an elegant silver cup from the Duke of Gordon, a handsome bronze medal embellished with the likeness of Nelson from the Reverend Gordon of Banff and a very fine print of Nelson’s dying scene from the Marquis of Huntly. In particular, a sculpted bust of Lord Nelson was commissioned by a number of supporters and placed in the tower in 1837.
Visitors to the tower can still see this impressive piece of sculpture. By far the most popular feature of the tower is the absolutely stunning view from the top deck. The 360-degree vista, particularly northwards over the broad reaches of the Moray Firth to the far hills of Caithness and west towards Ullapool, provides an unforgettable experience. The Tower is normally open to the public 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day from Saturday 1st April to the end of September but please check that the Red Ensign is flying from the tower mast, just to make sure.