Eternity Holistics

03/06/2026

For Westie owners 😂

25/05/2026

It is one of Scotland’s most iconic—and arguably most stubborn—traditions. What started as a late-night prank in the 1980s has evolved into a symbol of Glasgow’s irreverent sense of humor and a long-standing battle of wills between the public and the local government.

​The Statue

​The target of the prank is the equestrian statue of Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, located outside the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Royal Exchange Square. Sculpted by Carlo Marochetti and erected in 1844, it was meant to be a somber tribute to the man who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

​The "Tradition"

​Starting sometime in the 1980s, locals began placing an orange-and-white traffic cone on the Duke’s head. For years, Glasgow City Council and the police viewed this as an act of vandalism. They would regularly send workers to remove the cone, only for another one to appear within days (or sometimes hours).

​The 2013 "Save the Cone" Campaign

​The conflict reached a boiling point in 2013 when Glasgow City Council decided they had enough. They proposed a plan to raise the plinth to a height of over six meters to make it "cone-proof."

​The council argued:

​The removal of the cone cost the city roughly £10,000 a year (about £100 per removal).
​Frequent climbing was damaging the Grade-A listed bronze statue.
​It projected a "depressing" image of the city.

​The Backlash:

The people of Glasgow did not agree. A "Save the Cone" Facebook petition garnered over 30,000 signatures in 24 hours. A physical protest even took place at the statue, with Glaswegians arguing that the cone was a symbol of the city's unique patter and identity.

​Faced with a PR nightmare, the council withdrew the proposal within days.

​A Global Icon

​Today, the cone is rarely removed. In fact, it has become a sanctioned part of the city’s branding:
​The 2014 Commonwealth Games: The statue featured prominently in the opening ceremony.

​Banksy’s Endorsement: In 2023, the elusive street artist Banksy held an exhibition at the GoMA, calling the statue his "favorite work of art in the UK" and the inspiration for his show.

​Special Editions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Duke was spotted wearing a blue mask; during Pride, he often sports a rainbow cone.

The cone has transitioned from a nuisance to a landmark. It is now listed by Lonely Planet as one of the "top 10 most bizarre monuments on Earth."

25/05/2026

25/05/2026

A great night at at Edinburgh A Man of Two Worlds Tour

25/05/2026

I have some space become available Fri 29th, 3 hour slot or more. Message to book. Deposit required.

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

Not only Tattoo Artists and Body Piercers. We also do most of the wonderful therapies, that you may have heard of and wish to try, or maybe you are already familiar with them. Message us for details..