Nelson's Column |
For the last 170 years, Lord Nelson has been “keeping an eye” on the city of London, from his perch on top of Nelson’s Column.
Even Trafalgar Square took the name from Nelson’s most famous victory, which ultimately cost him his life.
You may notice that although Nelson was a hero, it took 38 years to get a memorial to him built.
Building Nelson’s Column
A fund was started to raise money for a monument to Nelson, but it only raised £1,300 which was totally inadequate.
It took just four months for them to secure an appropriate site for the Memorial – in the heart of Trafalgar Square, which was under construction at that time.
Other artists and sculptors were commissioned to work on the lions and the decorative panels. Edward Hodges Baily sculpted the statue of Nelson, which actually stands over 18 feet (5.5 metres) high.
Completion of The Column
Nelson was raised to his position high above the Square on 4 November 1843, narrowly missing Trafalgar Day by just 14 days.
The four 18-foot square bas-relief bronze panels at the foot of the column depict Nelson’s greatest battles: the Battle of the Nile, the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the Battle of Copenhagen and the Battle of Trafalgar.
What Does Nelson Have in his Left Hand?
The 18ft statue of Admiral Lord Nelson at the top of Nelson's Column is shown holding his sword in his left hand.
Nelson carried his sword into the assault on Tenerife where he lost his right arm, and by some accounts, he vowed never to part with it - so it's appropriate that his statue shows Nelson carrying it to this day in his left hand at the top of Nelson's Column.
Dispute Over Nelson’s Column Height
The whole monument from top to bottom measures 169 feet high (51.6 metres).
Landseer’s Lions of Trafalgar Square
Finally, the four famous lions were added to the foot of the column and have been a constant source of amusement for generations of children to clamber on.
Unfortunately, he made an anatomical error as he sculpted the lions with concave backs. In real life when lions lie down, they have an arched back.
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(2022 times)
Open at all times. |
Admission Charges |
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(2022 prices)
Free |
Directions |
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Nelson's Column Postcode for SatNav: SW1
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Days Out near Nelson's Column
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Trafalgar Square (<1 Mile)*
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National Gallery (<1 Mile)*
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The Household Cavalry Museum (<1 Mile)*
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National Portrait Gallery (<1 Mile)*
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Churchill War Rooms (<1 Mile)*
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10 Downing Street (<1 Mile)*
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Westminster Abbey (1 Mile)*
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Coca-Cola London Eye (1 Mile)*
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Big Ben (1 Mile)*
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Sea Life London Aquarium (1 Mile)*
Places to Visit near Nelson's Column
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London (<1 Mile)*
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Bloomsbury (1 Mile)*
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City of London (2 Miles)*
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London Borough of Islington (2 Miles)*
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London Borough of Southwark (3 Miles)*
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London Borough of Camden (3 Miles)*
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London Borough of Lambeth (3 Miles)*
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London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (4 Miles)*
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Notting Hill (4 Miles)*
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London Borough of Haringey (6 Miles)*
Also near Nelson's Column |
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