Memorial to the Siege of Cádiz
Memorial to the Siege of Cádiz stands on Horse Guards Parade in Westminster, centred on a massive mortar. Its wheelchair-accessible setting places military history beside one of London’s ceremonial spaces.
The mortar recalls the French siege of Cádiz during the Peninsular War, which lasted more than two years. British, Spanish, and Portuguese forces kept the port supplied by sea. After Wellington’s victory at Salamanca in July 1812, French troops withdrew and abandoned several siege guns, including this weapon. The Spanish government presented it to the Prince Regent as a gesture of respect and gratitude. London displayed the mortar publicly from August 1816.
Its inscription links the lifting of the siege with Salamanca and the mortar’s intended destruction of Cádiz. Contemporary reports considered the weapon inaccurate, despite its formidable size. The surviving artillery piece now preserves a striking connection between warfare, diplomacy, and international cooperation.
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