View of Trafalgar Square - London Picture Archive

Title

View of Trafalgar Square

Reference

SC_PHL_01_537_386 (Collage 141137)

Date

Collection

London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library

Description

View of Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, looking west from the junction with the Strand. Trafalgar Square was planned as part of the redevelopment of the West Strand Improvements by John Nash following the passing of the Charing Cross Act of 1826. Although it was to be another 30 years before the square was completed, it occupies the area of the former Great Mews of the Crown Stables. Charles Barry was the architect, although he opposed the decision to erect Nelson's Column on the site - he was overruled. The whole square is Grade I listed, number 1001362. Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's memorial column and sculpture was built 1839-1842 to the design of William Railton with a fluted granite column and Corinthian capital. The statue was by E.H. Baily; and the bas-relief panels around the base depicting Nelson's famous naval battles by J.E. Carew, J. Ternouth, M.L. Watson and W.F. Woodington. The lions by Sir Edwin Landseer were cast by Baron Marochetti and added in 1867. The monument is Grade I listed, number 1276052. Partially obscured by a tree is the statue of General Sir Henry Havelock, cast in bronze in 1861 by W. Behnes. Havelock was a British general who is associated with India and his recapture of Cawnpore during the 1857 First Indian War of Independence (Sepoy Mutiny). It is Grade II* listed, number 1217599. The three- and four-storey buildings on the left were shops and offices. Number 56 Charing Cross, with a large sign on the roof parapet advertising 'Bovril', was the offices of The Liverpool and London and Globe Life and Fire Assurance Company. Founded in 1836, it was merged in 1918 with Royal Assurance to form what was then the largest insurance company in the world. Number 57 has a sign for the Phoenix Fire Company, and two statues of phoenixes above pillars that rise through the ground and first floors. Founded in 1680 after the Great Fire of London, Phoenix Fire Assurance was merged in 1984 with Sun Alliance whose offices at the time were at number 60. The white building, number 58 Charing Cross, was S. Matthews and Son, waterproofers, and a large sign advertises Mackintoshes. Number 63, with a large sign on the third floor for 'Map, Globe', was the premises of Charles Smith and Son, Map Publishers. A noted map maker, he first published his 'New Map of London' in 1830. These buildings were demolished and the site redeveloped. The three-storey building on the corner with Spring Gardens was The Union Bank of London. Founded in 1839, it merged in 1902 to form Union of London and Smith's Bank. Built in 1871 by F. W. Porter, of Portland Stone and polished red granite, it is now a pub and is Grade II* listed, number 1217744. These buildings were demolished, and the site redeveloped. In the square stand a group of people, all the men wearing bowler hats. In the foreground a newspaper seller is holding a poster with a headline of Royal Wedding. This was the wedding of Princess Maud of Wales, (the fifth child of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII), and Prince Charles of Denmark, later King Hakkon VII of Norway. The ceremony took place in the chapel of Buckingham Palace on 22nd July 1896.