Statue of Lord Horatio Nelson, Bridgetown

The bronze statue of British naval officer Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, stood in National Heroes Square (formerly Trafalgar Square) in Bridgetown, from 1813 until its removal in 2020. The statue, created by sculptor Richard Westmacott, was erected on 22 March 1813 in honor of Nelson’s 1805 visit to Barbados, during which he and the British fleet pursued the Franco-Spanish navy ahead of the decisive Battle of Trafalgar.

For much of its existence, the monument was a significant landmark in Bridgetown, with the adjacent Parliament Buildings constructed later in the 19th century. It was even featured on Barbadian postage stamps between 1906 and 1964. However, its role as a colonial symbol became increasingly contentious. In 1999, Trafalgar Square was renamed National Heroes Square, reflecting Barbados’ evolving historical narrative. Official tributes to Nelson declined, and by 2017, public opposition became more pronounced-vandals covered the statue in blue and yellow paint on the eve of the nation’s Independence Day, branding Nelson as a "racist and white supremacist."

On 24 July 2020, John King, the Minister responsible for Culture, announced plans to remove the statue during the national Season of Emancipation. Delays pushed the relocation to 16 November 2020, the International Day for Tolerance. The statue was ultimately transferred to the Barbados Museum, marking a shift in how the nation commemorates its past.