Trafalgar Square

• At the center of the square stands Nelson's Column. This is a monument to the British naval victory over the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The column is made from granite, is 151 feet (46 meters) high, and topped by an 18 foot (5½ meter) statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson. At the bottom of the column is a square pedestal which is decorated with bronze panels (these having been cast from captured French cannon), as well four large lion statues which guard the column.
  
  
• At the four corners of the square, and four plinths. Three of these hold statues, namely of King George IV (Northeast plinth), Henry Havelock (Southeast plinth), and Sir Charles Napier (Southwest plinth). The Northwest plinth does not however have a permanent statue, and thus has been used for various temporary statues and art installations. Various proposals have been made for possible permanent statues for the Northwest plinth, and for even changing the other existing statues, but so far none has been enacted.
  
  
• On the North side of the square is the National Gallery.
  
  
• In the past, Trafalgar Square was home to many pigeons, and a popular tourist activity was feeding them. Today, however bird seed is no longer sold at the square, feeding birds and pigeons has been banned, and most pigeons have been diven away from the area.
  
  
• Trafalgar has often been used political demonstrations. In recent years, it has also sometimes been used for victory celebrations when British or English teams win sporting events, and giant video screen have on occasion been erected in the square for important England soccer matches.
  
  
• Every year since 1947, a large Christmas tree from Norway has been displayed in the square. This tradition commemorates British support for Norway during World War II.

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Tourists at Trafalgar Square, London, England Photographic Print
I'Anson, Richard
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London, Trafalgar Square, 1948-1965 18" X 24" Giclee Print Artist: Claude Buckle.	Evening View from Trafalgar Square Down Whitehall with Big Ben in the Background, London, England 12" X 9" Photographic Print Artist: Roy Rainford.	Phone Box, Trafalgar Square Afternoon, London, England, United Kingdom 24" X 8" Photographic Print Artist: Panoramic Images.
Dragon Dancing Through Trafalgar Square During Chinese New Year Celebrations 12" X 16" Photographic Print Artist: Gavin Gough.	Evening View from Trafalgar Square Down Whitehall with Big Ben in the Background, London, England 9" X 12" Photographic Print Artist: Roy Rainford.	Trafalgar Square, London, England, United Kingdom 12" X 9" Photographic Print Artist: Roy Rainford.

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Trafalgar Square: A Visual History of London's Landmark Through Time By Jean Hood B.T. Batsford Hardcover (144 pages) List Price: $24.95* Lowest New Price: $22.50* Lowest Used Price: $1.00* Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your credit card will not be charged until we ship the item.* *(As of 07:59 Pacific 4 Feb 2012 More Info) Click Here Product Description: As we approach the bicentennary of Nelson's decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar (October 2005), it is timely that a history of the world's most imposing, central and celebrated naval monument should be published. Although Trafalgar Square, with its column and famous lions and fountains, provides an iconic image of London today, it was not until 1830 that the Square acquired its name, and later still, in 1843 - almost 40 years after his death - that Nelson's Column was erected. What was there before? Why was this particular site chosen to commemorate Nelson? The author, Jean Hood, traces the evolution of the Square, through the design and planning of the monument, Parliamentary squabbles and indecision, engineering debacle and overspend, through the rise of the buildings that surround it and the statues that decorate it, to the recent modernisation and pedestrianisation that was completed in 2003, which realises the original plan of access from the National Gallery. Illustrated with a wealth of maps and plans, engravings, artworks and photographs, in colour and in black and white, Jean's lively and fascinating text incorporates biographies of the architects, designers and prominent figures who created the Square that we recognise today, and explores themes such as national celebration, political protest and artistic controversy that have become as intrinsic to the character of the Square as the architecture itself. Thorough in research and description, rich in anecdote and visually appealing, this book is a beautiful souvenir to the millions of visitors who come to the Square every year as well as essential reading for anyone interested in the history and development of London.