Admiral Horatio Nelson Statue in Bridgetown

Barbados

By Contested Histories Initiative July 2021

Originally erected in 1813, the statue of British Colonial Admiral Horatio Nelson, enjoyed 206 years of undisturbed tenure in the centre of Bridgetown. However, in recent years Barbados has undergone a journey of renewing national identity and demarcating new heroes, causing Nelson to come under scrutiny. This case raises questions about national identity and colonialism and how the legacy of the latter can both stymie and stimulate the formation of the former. Ultimately, in 2020 the statue of Nelson was removed.

For the case study click here.