Trafalgar Square: Nelson's Column

Antiques from London on eBay

VINTAGE CABINET PLATE CRIES OF LONDON BLACK CHERRIES
30 Jun 2010 at 5:00am
US $44.65
End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 3:00:38 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $44.65
Buy it now | Add to watch list
VINTAGE CABINET PLATE CRIES OF LONDON YELLOW PRIMROSES
30 Jun 2010 at 5:02am
US $44.65
End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 3:02:06 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $44.65
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column:

It is supposed that we are indebted to William IV for the idea of a square to be called Trafalgar in honour of Nelson, and to contain some worthy memorial of the hero.

The total height of the monument, designed by Railton, is 193 feet, and its design is from that of one of the columns of the Temple of Mars at Rome.

The statue, which looks so small from the ground, is really 17 feet high, nearly three times the height of a man; it was the work of E. H. Baily, R.A.

The pedestal has bronze bas-reliefs on its four sides, representing the four greatest of Nelson's battles, Trafalgar, St. Vincent, Aboukir, and Copenhagen.

The massive lions on the extended pedestal were designed by Sir Edwin Landseer.

Of the other statues, that of George IV is by Sir Francis Chantrey, and was originally intended for the top of the Marble Arch, and that of General Gordon was designed by Hamo Thorneycroft.

Bronze blocks let into the north wall of the square contain the measures of the secondary standards of length, and were inserted here in 1876 by the Standards Department of the Board of Trade.

The Union Club and College of Physicians are on the west side of the square.

The latter was founded by Dr. Linacre, physician to King Henry VIII.

Next: The National Gallery