View of Trafalgar Square - London Picture Archive

Title

View of Trafalgar Square

Reference

SC_PHL_01_537_5255c (Collage 141148)

Date

Collection

London Metropolitan Archives: LCC Photograph Library

Description

View of Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, looking west towards Admiralty Arch from the corner of Charing Cross and Northumberland Avenue. 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. At the northern end of Charing Cross (now the northern end of Whitehall) is a bronze equestrian statue of Charles I in half armour. Commissioned in 1630 by Charles I's Lord Treasurer Sir Richard Weston for his house at Mortlake Park, Roehampton. Cast in 1633 by Hubert Le Sueur, the Portland Stone pedestal is by Joshua Marshall carved in 1674-5 when the statue was moved to this position. It is Grade I listed, number 1357291. Adjacent to the statue is an 1880 cast-iron lamp standard and vent with an ornate bell-shaped base decorated with griffins. Surmounted by an urn on which stand a group of three putti holding festoons and forming the base of the shaft which carries three lamps on curved, scroll-ornamented brackets. It is Grade II* listed, number 1066283. On the left is a four-storey building with attics. The shop on the ground floor of number 3 Charing Cross is occupied by Trow and Dodd, tailors. The corner building at number 4 is The District Messenger and Theatre Ticket Company. Above the third floor is a large sign for the New York Life Insurance company founded in Manhattan in 1841. It continues to trade and is one of the largest corporations in the USA. On the opposite corner of Charing Cross is Drummonds Bank, constructed in 1879 for the private bank known as Messrs Drummond, founded in 1717 by Andrew Drummond. The bank was acquired by Royal Bank of Scotland in 1924. Designed by George Aitchison and three storeys high with an attic, it was built of Portland Stone, in a neo-Palladian style. The porch has polished granite pilasters and balustraded parapet. It is Grade II* listed, number 1225731. In the distance is the outline of Admiralty Arch, still under construction. Completed in 1911, it is a triumphal arch in Portland Stone by Sir Aston Webb, an entrance to the ceremonial approach to Buckingham Palace and part of the national monument to Queen Victoria. It is Grade I listed, number 1238982. Some buildings on Charing Cross have been demolished for its construction, and the side of number 57 is supported by wooden braces. This was the offices of the Phoenix Fire Company with 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 merged in 1984 with Sun Alliance whose offices at the time were at number 60. The white building, numbers 58 and 59 were Anderson, Anderson and Anderson Limited, India Rubber manufacturers. In the foreground a traffic island has an ornate gas lamp standard. There are two motor cars in the street and many pedestrians, with most of the men wearing bowler hats.