
Clio - Captain Grenville's Column, Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted by:
Dragontree
N 52° 01.837 W 001° 00.924
30U E 636144 N 5766302
Clio stands on top of Captain Grenville's Column in Stowe Landscape Gardens.
Waymark Code: WM65VB
Location: Southern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/08/2009
Views: 1
Clio was the muse of heroic poetry and history in Greek mythology. Also known as the proclaimer she fittingly commemorates Thomas Grenville, a younger brother of Earl Temple. Thomas was the Captain on HMS Defiance and was killed in action on the 3rd of May, 1747 when they came across a French Frigate.
Clio holds a scroll which reads: Non Nisi Grandia Canto. "none but heroic deeds I sing."
The column is a Doric design built in 1747 by Lord Cobham. It used to stand in the Grecian Valley in the gardens but was moved here in 1756. Along the column are decorative details of ship prows and anchors.
Once upon a time it is said that a statue of Neptune adorned the top of the column holding a piece of the ship; a splinter which reportedly killed Thomas Grenville. This is confirmed on the inscription on the column. More information can be found here: visit link