THE monument to his life has stood over Montgomeryshire for more than 200 years many do not know the story of Admiral Rodney.

While even to this day many wonder why a stone pillar had been erected at the summit of the face of the Breidden - high above the Severn Valley and commanding the observance and reverence of all.

Certainly the placement of Rodney’s Pillar, with views of Plynlimon, Cader Idris, Aran Vawddwy, the Berwyns, the Ruabon range, the Wenlock range and Caradoc, suggests a great deal of thought had gone into the monument.

George Brydges Rodney was born in London in 1718 and would become one of the most eminent Royal Navy commanders of his day - fighting in the War of Austrian Succession, The Seven Years War, American War of Independence and Fourth Anglo Dutch War in an action packed life.

County Times: Admiral George Rodney.Admiral George Rodney.

Admiral George Rodney.

Rodney became famous for his 52 hour bombardment of Le Havre in 1759 while his crowning glory arrived in 1782 at the Battle of Saints in the Caribbean which saved Jamaica for the British.

The victory had changed the mood of the war weary British.

King George III is reported to have said: ‘the great success of Lord Rodney's engagement has so far roused the nation, that the peace which would have been acquiesced in three months ago would now be a matter for complaint.’

Lord Rodney had returned home a hero and made a Freeman of Cork while monuments were built in his honour in Newfoundland, Jamaica and in Montgomeryshire with a pillar erected in 1781 before his victory in the Caribbean which had made him a national hero.

Not all had considered him a hero and he had been accused of breaking maritime war by seizing the Dutch islands of St Eustatius during his Caribbean campaign to which he replied ‘Traitors to their country and rebels to their king and not entitled indulgences and respect and shall never meet with either at my hands.’

Lord Rodney died in 1792 and was buried at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

At this time a pillar in his honour had stood in the Montgomeryshire hills for more than a decade and it is entirely likely the man himself had heard of its existence.

The pillar is first recorded in 1787 and designed by John Evans of Llwynygroes and funded by a subscription of the gentleman of the county as a mark of gratitude to the worthy Admiral.’

Word of the pillar spread across the country and as to why the people of Montgomeryshire had held Admiral Rodney in such regard.

In fact it had been a labour of love for families in Montgomeryshire as well as Shropshire who had met at the site of the pillar for many years after to celebrate Admiral Rodney’s naval victories.

The pillar fell into disrepair during the early 19th century and In 1877 the pillar is said to have been in the care of Mrs Lloyd of the Lion Hotel in Llanymynech.

Over the centuries efforts have been made to explain why the Breidden Hills came to be chosen as a place to honour Lord Rodney.

Certainly he had not been from the region and spent most of life half the world away.

However one theory is that the Breidden was the first high ground he saw on his return homeward at sea while the admiral had once said: "After fighting all day long at Waterloo,, when the battle was over, that the first bit of English ground he saw should have a pillar erected on it in memory of the event, so he clapped a glass to his eye and spied the Breidden."

It is likely we will never know for sure but we know for centuries the people of Montgomeryshire and Shropshire scaled the Breidden to celebrate Admiral Rodney which is inscribed with the words ‘The highest pillars will fall, The strongest towers will decay, But the fame of Sir George Brydges Rodney, shall increase continually, and his good name shall never be obliterated. "