Monumental Tower

Retiro
The National Congress accepted through the enactment of Law No. 6368 of September 18, 1909 the offer of British residents to erect a monumental column, on the occasion of the centennial of the May Revolution.

In 1910, the projects were exhibited in the Bon Marché Hall, currently Galerias Pacifico.

The winner by system of competitions, was the British architect Sir Ambrose Macdonald Poynter (1867-1923), grandson of the founder of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The tower was initially considered as a commemorative monument of the Centennial of May in the form of a column, although it finally acquired the shape of a tower.

The construction was carried out by Hopkins and Gardom.

Almost all the material for the building (cement, Portland stones and bricks of the Leicester type) was brought from England.

The same happened with the technical personnel in charge of construction.

Due to the death of Edward VII on May 6, 1910, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland did not send his delegation to the Centennial celebrations, so the laying of the foundation stone was only carried out on November 26.

The inauguration took place on May 24, 1916. The delay was due, on the one hand, to the First World War, and on the other, because the gas company that was installed in the plaza just vacated the place in 1912. In President Victorino de la Plaza and the English plenipotentiary minister Reginal Tower were present.