Before Trafalgar Square was laid out in Victorian times it was the site of the old Royal Mews, or stables. Hunting falcons were once kept there. The Square was named to commemorate Admiral Lord Nelson’s naval victory over the French at Trafalgar in 1805. Today it is a place where people meet, and is a site famous for political demonstrations.

Nelson’s Column

The Square’s most famous landmark is Nelson’s Column. There are four bronze lions around it, modeled by the artist Sir Edwin Landseer. They were cast from the cannon of battleships. Every October 21st there is a service under the column to commemorate Nelson. A few days before Nelson’s statue was erected fourteen stonemasons held a dinner on top of the column. Before the statue was hoisted up it was put on show to the public. It was never come down since; people climb up the column to clean and restore it.

Nelson’s statue is over 5m high, that about three times his real height. The statue shows Nelson with one arm and one eye. He lost them in battle. The column is a copy of one from a temple in Rome. It is 51m high. Brass relieves around the bottom show battle scenes. They were cast from captured French cannon. Thousands of pigeons congregate in Trafalgar Square. In summer you can buy birdseed to feet them.

Sights in the Square

George the Fourth’s statue. Around the Square there are many statues. One of them shows George the Fourth on horse back. He chose the pose himself and made it very heroic – he is riding in Roman costume, bareback and without stirrups.

Charles the First’s statue. A statue of the Charles the First on horseback looks down Whitehall. During the Civil War it was sold to a brazier to melt down. But he hid it in his garden and produced it again when the monarchy returned.

The Police Box. In a corner of the Square there is a small hollow pillar, built as an observation post for one policeman. It is London’s smallest police office. The lamp on top is said to come from Nelson’s flagship Victory.

The Standards of Length. On the north wall a brass plaque shows the British Imperial standards of length. Mileages from London are traditionally measured from behind Charles the First’s statue.

Saint Martin-in-the-Fields. The church of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields is on the north-east side of the Square. It was built in 1721, and many wooden churches in America, particularly in New England, are copies of it. It is famous for lunchtime concerts. Nell Gwynn and the furniture marker Thomas Chippendale are buried there.

Eleanor’s Cross. In the nearby Stand, by Charing Cross Station, you can see Eleanor’s Cross. The original one was erected by Edward the First in memory of his wife Eleanor. It marked the last resting place of her funeral procession before it reached Westminster Abbey in 1291. Today’s cross is a Victorian version.

Celebrations

Every year Norway sends Britain a huge Christmas tree, as thanks for wartime help. It stands in the Square from mid-December, when the Ambassador of Norway switches on the lights. Carols are sung around it every evening until Christmas. On New Year’s Eve people go to Trafalgar Square to hear the mid-night chimes of Big Ben.

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Is Trafalgar Square. It’s a place where the three Westminster’s streets: Strand, Whitehall and Mall meet. It’s a traditional place for meetings, demonstrations, other gatherings and mass events holding. The main country’s Christmas tree imported from Norway is set there annually. Norway presents Britain with a tree to thank for liberation from the Nazis.

It was named so by George Taylor in commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar that took place in 1805. In the centre of the square the Nelson’s Column, surrounded with fountains, is situated. Horatio Nelson was a commander admiral at that historical naval battle who died defeating Napoleon. His statue erected in 1843 is about 200 feet high and has 4 sculpted lions on its basement (added later on).

There are 4 plinths in every corner of Trafalgar Square with statues of George IV, Charles Napier, and Henry Havelock. The northwest plinth also known as the fourth plinth remained empty for 150 years. There should have been an equestrian statue of King William IV. Though, due to the lack of money the project wasn’t completed. Recently it has been decided to place there modern art installations that should be changed every 2 years. Since 2013 there is an ultramarine blue statue of Hahn/Cock.

The National Gallery of London is also situated on the north side of the square. It was completed in 1843. Its collection is compiled of the masterpieces of famous artists: Rafael, Rembrandt, Titian, Hogarth, Michelangelo, Rubens, Renoir and other. The National Portrait Gallery is a world-renowned gallery that has in its disposal the portraits of outstanding British people since Tudor times till nowadays. The portraits are arranged thematically and must depict people who have been dead at least for ten years.

And South Africa houses as well as Admiralty Arch and St. Martin-in-the-Fields’ church are other prominent places of visit located nearby. The style of the last one had been copied by various architects for building churches, especially in the USA.

If a tourist experiences some troubles, he can ask for the help the heritage wardens which are present in the square around the clock. They provide with the appropriate answers and may give some pieces of advice as for the nearby attractions.

Till the recent time the doves were a special attraction of the place. There could be up to 35 thousand pigeons on the square simultaneously. Partially it was because of the tourists who fed birds. In fact, that made a great problem as the city administration spent 160 thousand dollars for cleaning the streets and monuments from the bird droppings every year. In 2007 the feeding pigeons was strictly prohibited that led to the decreasing of the birds number.

Трафальгарская площадь - гордость жителей Лондона. Это место является центром Вестминстера и связывает между собой три главные улицы. Оно также поражает своим величием и ежегодно собирает толпы туристов, чтобы восхититься этой достопримечательностью. Площадь была основана в 1820 году. Изначально, на ее месте располагались вольеры для королевских соколов. Позже там были построены конюшни, и после того как их снесли, местные власти решили создать огромную площадь. Цель этого проекта была благоустроить город, и предоставить людям место для культурного отдыха.

Площадь была названа в честь морской Трафальгарской битвы на этом месте, которой руководил адмирал Горацио Нельсон. В память об этом выдающемся человеке на площади была воздвигнута колона с гранитным монументом Нельсона на вершине. Высота колоны 56 метров. У подножья установлены огромные четыре льва из бронзы.

Помимо памятника Нельсону, остальное пространство включает в себя немало других интересных сооружений. Это скульптуры великих людей, сыгравших значимую роль в истории Англии, величественные фонтаны, две Национальные галереи которые хранят в себе около 2300 картин, церковь Святого Мартина.

Трафальгарский сквер окружен множеством дорог, а его центр является основной транспортной развязкой. Движение транспорта в час пик интенсивно растёт. Но в последнее время количество машин сократилось, в целях безопасности пешеходов, и тех, кто приходит туда отдыхать.

Много лет назад Трафальгарская площадь была пристанищем диких голубей, они слетались отовсюду, туристы и местные граждане любили их подкармливать. Но вскоре было признано, что голуби оставляют после себя много грязи, и портят каменные сооружения. В 2000 году власти запретили продавать корм для птиц, но люди все равно продолжали их кормить. И тогда ввели запрет на кормление, и наказание в виде денежного штрафа, для тех кто ослушался. Со временем голуби стали исчезать и сейчас уже практически не прилетают.

Трафальгарский сквер с момента создания, стал традиционным местом как для митингов и пикетов, так и для праздничных гуляний и фестивалей. Каждый Новый Год жители встречают собираясь на площади, где всякий раз устанавливается праздничная елка Великобритании.

Перевод

Trafalgar Square is the pride of the inhabitants of London. This place is the center of Westminster and connects the three main streets. It also amazes with its greatness and annually gathers crowds of tourists to admire this landmark. The square was founded in 1820. Initially, in its place were aviaries for royal falcons. Later, there were built stables, and after they were demolished, local authorities decided to create a huge area. The purpose of this project was to beautify the city, and to provide people with a place for cultural recreation.

The square was named after the naval Battle of Trafalgar on this site, which was led by Admiral Horatio Nelson. In memory of this outstanding man, a column with a granite monument of Nelson on the summit was erected on the square. The height of the column is 56 meters. Four huge lions of bronze are installed at the foot.

In addition to the monument to Nelson, the rest of the space includes many other interesting buildings. These are sculptures of great people who played a significant role in the history of England, majestic fountains, two National Galleries which hold about 2300 paintings, the Church of St. Martin.

Trafalgar Square is surrounded by many roads, and its center is the main traffic junction. The movement of traffic is intensively growing during the peak hours. But recently the number of cars has decreased, for the safety of pedestrians, and those, who come there for resting.

Many years ago Trafalgar Square was a haven of wild pigeons, they flew everywhere, and tourists and local citizens liked to feed them. But soon it was recognized that the pigeons leave a lot of mud after themselves, and spoil the stone structures. In 2000, the authorities banned the sale of feed for birds, but people still continued to feed them. And then they introduced a ban on feeding, and punishment in the form of a fine for those who violated the ban. Over time, the pigeons began to disappear and now almost do not arrive.

На фото: достопримечательности Трафальгарской площади на табличке у подножия колонны Нельсона - Лондон, 2012. Кликните по картинке, чтобы посмотреть фотографию в полном размере.

В центре Трафальгарской площади расположена колонна Нельсона из темно-серого гранита высотой 44 метра, увенчанная статуей адмирала Нельсона. Четыре стороны колонны украшены фресками, изготовленными из захваченных и переплавленных наполеоновских пушек. Она сооружена в 1840-1843 гг., окружена скульптурами львов и фонтанами. По углам площади - четыре скульптуры.

Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. It is in the borough of the City of Westminster. At its centre is Nelson"s Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of contemporary art. The square is also used for political demonstrations and community gatherings, such as the celebration of New Year"s Eve. The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars over France. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth"s Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square".

Nelson’s Column had been planned independently of Barry’s work. In 1838 a Nelson Memorial Committee had approached the government, proposing that a monument to the victor of Trafalgar, funded by public subscription, should be erected in the square, and the government had provisionally agreed. A competition was held, the winning design, by the architect William Railton, being for a Corinthian column topped by a statue of Nelson, with an overall height of more than 200 feet, guarded by four sculpted lions. The design was approved, with the proviso that the overall height should be reduced to 170 feet, and construction began in 1840. The main construction of the column was completed, and the statue raised, in November 1843. However, the last of bronze reliefs on the pedestal of the column was not installed until May 1854, and The four lions, although part of the original design, were only added in 1867.