View of Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, looking southwest from the junction with the Strand. 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. At the northern end of Charing Cross (now northern end of Whitehall) is a bronze 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. Adjacent to the statue is an 1880 cast-iron lamp standard and vent with an ornate bell-shaped base decorated with griffins. Surmounted by an urn on which stand a group of three putti holding festoons and forming the base of the shaft which carries three lamps on curved, scroll-ornamented brackets. It is Grade II* listed, number 1225731. On the southern side of the square is 54 Charing Cross with a sign on the roof parapet for 'Whitelock and Sons', outfitters. Number 55 is a four-storey building with a steeply pitched roof and a sign on the roof parapet for 'Union’. Offices of The Union Assurance Society, which eventually became The Commercial Union Insurance Company. Number 56 is a two-storey building with a large sign for 'Bovril' on the roof and signs above the ground floor for The Liverpool and London and Globe Life and Fire Assurance Company. Founded in 1836, it later became part of the modern Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group. Number 57 has a sign for Phoenix Fire Company, and two statues of phoenixes above pillars that rise through the ground and first floors. Founded in 1680 after the Great Fire of London, Phoenix Fire Assurance was merged in 1984 with Sun Alliance whose offices at the time were at number 60. The white building, 58 Charing Cross, was S. Matthews and Son, waterproofers, and a large sign advertises Mackintoshes. Number 62 with a sign on the roof parapet for 'M H Blamey and Company' - Matthew Hind Blamey, tailors. Number 63, with a sign for 'Maps, Globe', was the premises of Charles Smith and Son, Map Publishers. A noted map maker he first published his 'New Map of London' in 1830. These buildings were demolished in the early-twentieth century to enable the building of Admiralty Arch. In the street are numerous pedestrians and several horse-drawn vehicles, including omnibuses, Hansom cabs and carts. In the foreground on a bollard is a newspaper hording with a headline about a Royal Wedding. This was the wedding of Princess Maud of Wales, (the fifth child of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII), and Prince Charles of Denmark, later King Hakkon VII of Norway. The ceremony took place in the chapel of Buckingham Palace on 22nd July 1896.