The work was built in 1854 at the southern approach to London Bridge but brought to Swanage by George Burt in 1868. The spire of the tower, which held a statue of Wellington was removed in 1904. It was designed as a memorial to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, by Mowlem and Burt. It is a square stone structure, of three stages, with the lower two stages solid, the upper stage open, supporting an ogee-shaped cupola, (replacing a former spire). The lowest stage has, in each face, a two-centred arch doorway with an ogee canopy in a square frame. The second stage, above a carved band course, has a two light segmental arched window with a circular window above, under a crocketted gable. The top stage consists of four piers supporting two centre cusped arches with ogee canopies carrying the cupola, and double angled buttresses with gabled crocketted tops.