The monument's design was inspired by an Egyptian obelisk, but in the shape of the type of bayonet used by Wellington's armies, a spike of triangular cross-section rather than a blade, with funds raised from local subscribers to commemorate his achievements.
ðə mˈɑːnjuːmənts dɪzˈaɪn wʌz ɪnspˈaɪɚd baɪ ɐn ɪdʒˈɪpʃən ˈɑːbəlɪsk, bˌʌt ɪnðə ʃˈeɪp ʌvðə tˈaɪp ʌv bˈeɪənˌɛt jˈuːzd baɪ wˈɛlɪŋtənz ˈɑːɹmiz, ɐ spˈaɪk ʌv tɹaɪˈæŋɡjʊlɚ kɹˈɔssˈɛkʃən ɹˈæðɚ ðˌænə blˈeɪd, wɪð fˈʌndz ɹˈeɪzd fɹʌm lˈoʊkəl səbskɹˈaɪbɚz tə kəmˈɛmɚɹˌeɪt hɪz ɐtʃˈiːvmənts.