View of Whitehall, City of Westminster, looking north towards Trafalgar Square. The name was taken from the Palace of Whitehall that was the residence of Kings Henry VIII through to William III before its destruction by fire in 1698. 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. Behind a lamppost, at the northern end of Whitehall, is an equestrian statue of Charles I in half armour. Commissioned in 1630 by Charles I's Lord Treasurer Sir Richard Weston for his house at Mortlake Park, Roehampton. Cast in 1633 by Hubert Le Sueur, the Portland Stone pedestal is by Joshua Marshall carved in 1674-5 when the statue was moved to this position. It is Grade I listed, number 1357291. At the northern side of Trafalgar Square is The National Gallery. Built 1832-38 by William Wilkins, to house The Angerstein Collection of paintings purchased by the government for The Royal Academy. The central Corinthian portico is raised on a podium wall with flanking steps and set back behind the portico pediment is a stone cupola dome. The secondary Corinthian porticoes have parapets raised over a central bay. The terminal pavilions have pairs of giant pilasters surmounted by small octagonal stone cupolas with pierced work openings. It is Grade I listed, number 1066236. On the right, at the corner of Northumberland Avenue and Whitehall, is the ‘Second Empire’ hotel block built 1881-82 by F. and H. Francis in stone, with slate roofs. Five storeys and a dormered mansard with two Trench square dome pavilion-roofs. It is now offices with shops on the ground floor and is Grade II* listed, number 1266434. On the left, at number 14 Whitehall, is the Whitehall Theatre. Built in 1929-30 by Edward A. Stone of steel and reinforced concrete clad in brick and with Portland Stone facades to the front and rear. Symmetrical facade with bronze windows to first and second floors, it is Grade II* listed, number 1259399. Signs advertise Paul Raymond's 'Pyjama Tops', when the theatre was the home of 'Adult Comedy', and Paul Raymond known as the 'King of Soho'. In the street are numerous vehicles and pedestrians.