View of Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, looking southwest from The National Gallery. Trafalgar Square was planned as part of the redevelopment of the West Strand Improvements by John Nash following the passing of the Charing Cross Act of 1826. Although it was to be another 30 years before the square was completed, it occupies the area of the former Great Mews of the Crown Stables. Charles Barry was the architect, although he opposed the decision to erect Nelson's Column on the site - he was overruled. The whole square is Grade I listed, number 1001362. Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's memorial column and sculpture was built 1839-1842, to the design of William Railton with a fluted granite column and Corinthian capital. The statue was by E. H. Baily, and the bas-relief panels around the base depicting Nelson's famous naval battles by J. E. Carew, J. Ternouth, M. L. Watson and W. F. Woodington. The lions by Sir Edwin Landseer were cast by Baron Marochetti and added in 1867. The monument is Grade I listed, number 1276052. On a plinth is a statue of George IV on horseback by Sir Francis Chantrey and T. Earle. A bronze statue cast in 1829 for the Marble Arch in its original setting as the entrance to Buckingham Palace, and moved to this site in 1843. It is Grade II* listed, number 1275350. On the right, the western side of the square is Canada House. Built 1824-27 by Sir Robert Smirke, as premises for The Royal College of Physicians and The Union Club, and altered on conversion as Canada House by Septimus Warwick in 1925. Faced in Bath stone, it has two storeys with attics and a balustraded parapet. Fifteen windows wide to Trafalgar Square, with its former central entrance now a window, and a portico of Ionic columns contained by advanced pilastered bays. The designers imported Canadian furniture, carpets and maple and birch flooring. The building was officially opened on 29 June 1925 by King George V and it remains the home of the High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom. It is Grade II* listed, number 1217724. On the southern side of the square on the left is part of Admiralty Arch. Completed in 1911, it is offices and an official residence block, incorporating a triumphal arch in Portland Stone by Sir Aston Webb. The entrance to the ceremonial approach to Buckingham Palace and part of the national monument to Queen Victoria. Two storeys high with an attic storey, dormered mansard and basement, and a massive blind crowning attic over the triumphal arch centrepiece. Six window wide wings flank an eleven window wide centrepiece, containing the banded rusticated triple carriage archways. It is Grade I listed, number 1238982. 57-59 Trafalgar Square, next to Admiralty Arch, is the Ugandan High Commission. Constructed in 1914-1915 by Sir Reginald Blomfield of Portland Stone. A curved corner building with five storeys, a basement and an attic, with a balustrade decorated by urns. The building is Grade II* listed, number 1266213. Number 60-61 is a four-storey building with a sign for the Sun Insurance Office on the roof parapet. Established in 1717, the company merged in 1959 to become Sun Alliance. Number 62-65 is a five-storey building with an attic and, on the roof parapet, a sign for Canadian Pacific. Faced in Portland Stone with a clocktower and bow windows to the first and second floors, the building was constructed as the London offices of The Canadian Pacific Railway Company and its affiliated steamship line. The ground-floor shop is now a cafe, and above are apartments. Number 66, a three-storey building on the corner with Spring Gardens, was The Union Bank of London. The bank was founded in 1839 and was merged in 1902 to form Union of London and Smith's Bank. Built in 1871 by F. W. Porter, of Portland Stone and polished red granite, it is now a pub and is Grade II* listed, number 1217744. Vehicles are waiting at traffic lights including a Jaguar and two Black cabs. There are many pedestrians.