Trafalgar Square and The Four Plinths

Learn about the origins of one of London's leading landmarks

National Gallery (2007) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

Trafalgar Square

Every city needs a place for its inhabitants to gather - a place that all generally agree is the place to come together to celebrate, protest, debate and commemorate. For London that place is Trafalgar Square.   

The Nelson Column in Trafalgar Sqaure under Construction (1843) by William Henry Fox TalbotThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

A Historical Landmark

From the 14th to the 17th century, the Square was the site of the King’s Mews (stables) that served Whitehall Palace. After King George IV moved the mews to Buckingham Palace, John Nash, a leading architect of that time, began redevelopment of the area in 1812. In 1830, the area was named Trafalgar Square in commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar where the British navy won the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain in 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar in southwest Spain.

Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London (1850) by Roger FentonHistoric England

Third Time Lucky

John Nash died soon after construction started and progress slowed thereafter. Plans laid by a second architect, William Wilkins (who designed the National Gallery), were never actioned. In 1840, a third architect, Charles Barry, who rebuilt the Houses of Parliament, submitted plans that were accepted and construction resumed. The Square  then opened in 1844.

Eid Festival by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

Nelson's Column

A number of commemorative statues occupy the Square. First is Nelson's Column. Built between 1840 and 1843, the Column stands 52m tall in the middle of the square, was designed by William Railton and carved out of Craigleith sandstone by the Bristol-born sculptor Edward Baily. It commemorates Admiral Horatio Nelson who died in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. 

Make A Stand exhibition launch by GLA/Caroline TeoOriginal Source: Mayor of London

Bronze reliefs on its pedestal installed in 1849 depict scenes from Nelson’s most famous battles; the metal used to carve them came from French guns which had been captured and melted down.

Trafalgar Square, Statues (2004) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

The Lions in the Square

In 1845, fountains were erected followed by the four bronze lions in 1867. The lions were designed by the painter and sculptor Sir Edwin Landseer and cast by the Italian-born French sculptor Baron Marochetti in his Kensington studio.
 

Jellicoe (2004) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

Along the wall of the north end of the square (in front of the National Gallery) are three busts of admirals. One is of Lord Jelllicoe who fought in the Anglo-Egyptian war and which was erected in 1948.

Beaty (2004) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

Also erected in 1948 was the bust of Lord Beatty who fought in the Madhist War between the Sudanese and Egyptians.

Cunningham (2004) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

The third is of Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham, a senior officer in the Royal Navy during World War II. This was erected in 1967. 

National Gallery and Square (2007) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

In front of the Gallery are a statue of James II dressed as a Roman emperor and the first American president George Washington. On the south side is a bronze statue of Charles I riding a horse and sculpted by the French sculptor Hubert Le Sueur.

The Plinths

There are four plinths (plinth - a heavy base supporting a sculpture or vase) that stand in each corner of the square. Charles Barry’s original plans came with the two on the north side which were built larger than those in the southern corners as they were  designed to hold equestrian statues. 

King George IV (2004) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

The North-Eastern Plinth

The plinth in the northeast corner holds a granite and bronze statue of King George IV on a horse and was erected in 1843; it was actually originally meant to be placed atop Marble Arch. 

Statues Trafalgar Square (2021) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

The North-Western Plinth

This plinth in the northwest corner was built in 1841. However, the plans to place a statue of King William IV, brother to King George, never materialised.

General Napier (2004) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

The South-Eastern Plinth

Approximately ten years later, two more plinths were built in the southern corners. This one of Major General Sir Henry Havelock (associated with the Indian Rebellion of 1857) was erected on the south-eastern plinth in 1861.

Trafalgar Sq Havelock (2004) by The Mayor of LondonMayor of London

The South-Western Plinth

A statue of General Sir Charles James Napier (governor of the British Empire and army commander-in-chief in India) was erected on the south-western plinth in 1856.

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L Rhoda Molife

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