Trafalgar Square
The Trafalgar Square is a public space, which is situated in London. It has been listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The Square was built as an honour to the victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. Historically, this site has been a significant landmark since the 13th century when it contained the King’s Mews. The Square serves as a community gathering place, often for political demonstrations such as the Bloody Sunday. The Square is surrounded by The National Gallery to the North, The Whitehall to the South, St Marin-in-the-Fields Church to the East, and The Mall to the South West also leading towards Buckingham Palace via Admiralty Arch.
History
One of the most iconic memorial that we can admire while visiting the Trafalgar Square is the Nelson’s Column. It has been raised in November 1843 and is a tribute to famous British admiral Horatio Nelson, who thanks to his inspirational leadership and unconventional tactics achieved his final victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Other famous admirals have also been paid tribute here, for instance Lord Jellicoe, Lord Beatty or The First Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham. In front of the National Gallery there is a statue of James II made by Grinling Gibbons and a replica of George Washington’s statue made originally by Jean-Antoine Houdon.
The Trafalgar Square has also been known as a place of political and social focus for Londoners and visitors. Since it was constructed it has been a venue for political demonstrations including the great Chartist rally in 1848 which was a campaign for social reforms. The Square also remembers the riots known as “Bloody Sunday” in Pall Mall where people protested against unemployment on 13th November 1887. Moreover, one of the most significant anti-war demonstrations of the modern era took place here, in September of 1961, when protesters rallied against war itself and the usage of nuclear weapons.
The most interesting facts according to Connect-Click:
- According to Norman Longmate’s book “If Britain Had Fallen” in 1940 the German SS developed secret plans to transfer Nelson’s Column to Berlin after an expected German invasion.
- The Trafalgar Square was once famous for its feral pigeons, but considering the health hazard and the prize of removing the damage from pigeon droppings at a cost of 140 000 pounds it is now prohibited to feed the birds.
- As an iconic London location, The Trafalgar Square was featured in various movies and television productions such as: Casino Royale, Doctor Who and Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
