The Triumphal Arch at Shugborough is most likely to have been the first of the park monuments undertaken by Stewart and certainly the most prominent. Work started soon after 1761 and was completed in 1765. It is based on the Arch of Hadrian in Athens.

In 1760, Thomas Anson suffered a huge loss, with the death of his close friend and sister-in-law, Elizabeth York, and again in 1762, with the death of his brother George. Thomas memorialised them both by adding their busts in the outer arches. In the central arch, Thomas added an ‘aplustre’, a commemorative plaque. It depicts naval trophies and other attributes linked to his Admiral brother’s illustrious life.