Nelsons Column

Nelson's Column stands in the center of Trafalgar Square. Admiral Nelson was one of the best-loved war heroes of Britain. He courageously fought and won four notable naval battles at the personal cost of losing his arm and one eye. Nelson's last and most famous battle was fought off the Spanish cape of Trafalgar. In his last battle he defeated Napoleon and the French and Spanish fleets but lost is life aboard H.M.S. Victory.

The monument built between 1840 and 1843 to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The top of the Corinthian (Classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture) column is decorated with bronze acanthus leaves which were cast from British cannon used in the war and the bottom is a square pedestal which is decorated with four bronze panels, cast from captured French guns and armaments. The four bronze panels depict the four great victories of Admiral Nelson. Sir Edwin Landseer's designed four bronze cast lions which guard the outside diagonals of Nelson's Column. The sandstone statue of Lord Nelson is placed at the top of the column and was designed and sculpted by E.H. Baily.

Adjacent to the Column are cascading fountains designed by renowned Sir Edward Lutyens and were added to the square in 1948.