How Much Do You Really Know About Trafalgar Square?

31 March 2015 | Best Of London, History | By: Londonist

So you think you know Trafalgar Square? Its an easy assumption to make the iconic part of Londons landscape is as familiar as the rest of Londons civic cliches. Buttheres much more to it than Nelsons Column and pigeon-feeding tourists, as Laura Porter explains.

The Royal Navy fought the combined forces of the French and Spanish at The Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. AdmiralLord Nelson was on HMS Victory and althoughthe Britishwon the battle he famouslydied in action,elevatinghim to hero status.

The land was part of the Great Royal Mews and used as stables by Whitehall Palace from the 14th to the late-17th century.

After beginning his reign following the Regency Act in 1811 (while his father, King George III, was mad), The Prince Regent wanted to make his mark on London. He instructed John Nash to plan a street from Charing Cross to Portland Place with an open public square at Charing Cross. Regent Street was completedin 1825 and the area for the public square was cleared in 1829 as part of the Charing Cross Improvement Scheme. By 1830, the square was officially named Trafalgar Square.

Work on locating the National Gallery along the north side of the square began in 1832 and was completed in 1838. Designed by the architect William Wilkins, he also submitted plans for the whole square, but died in 1839 so new plans by Sir Charles Barry (architect of the Palace of Westminster) were approved quickly.

This painting by James Pollard is c.1836-43. Note, the National Gallery has been built but theres no Nelsons Column yet.

In 1838 the Nelson Memorial Committee proposed a permanent tribute to the national hero. William Railton won the design competition. Work started in 1840and was completed in 1843.

The construction of Nelsons Column. Photography by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1844.

The correct title is The Nelson Monument and the column is built of granite from Devon.

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How Much Do You Really Know About Trafalgar Square?