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Since
the ninth century, the site of Trafalgar Square has been of importance
to residents of London. Then, it marked the edge of the Anglo-Saxon
trading town of Lundenwic.
By
the Middle Ages, it was known as Charing, and by the reign of Edward
I, the site of Charing Cross had become an important meeting place,
due to its location between the old city of London, the Royal Palace
and the Abbey of Westminster.
The
name Charing Cross came from a memorial to Queen Eleanor of Castile
(the wife of Edward the First).
Queen
Eleanor's original Charing Cross was destroyed in 1647, and the
statue of Charles I now resides it its place. You can find a Victoria
replica outside Charing Cross station.
The
site then was the main home for Royal Mews and stables from the
mid thirteenth century. The Crown Stables were on the site of the
western part of the National Gallery.
It
wasn't until 1812 that plans to transform the area first appeared,
from Sir John Nash, the King's architect. He wanted to rid the area
of what he called the ‘filthy and disreputable abodes’
of the Mews. He died before the plans became a reality.
The
square was designed by Sir Charles Barry, who was also responsible
for the Houses of Parliament. Building started in 1840 and finished
five years later.
However
Barry didn't like the concept of Nelson's Column. He was overruled
and the column was built to celebrate the life and victories of
one of Britain's greatest naval leaders.
As
well as being surrounded by some of London's most important art
venues - the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery
- it is in fact one of the first permanent police boxes, built into
the square and was therefore the last police box in London, before
the new one in Earl's Court was built.
Now it's used as a broom cupboard for Westminster Council cleaners.
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