Trafalgar SquareThis was the second walk I went on. The group started out walking across Waterloo Bridge and heading west on the Strand. Our first destination was Trafalger Square. Here we learned about Lord Horatio Nelson's life, victory, and death. The monument to Nelson sits high above the Square. The statue itself features a right-armless Nelson. The Battle of Trafalgar was the greatest naval battle in history because a highly outnumbered Nelson did what the French knew he would not do, and commanded his ship be steered directly into the French fleet rather than along side of it. Before this daring tactic, Nelson's ship flew the message "England expects that every man will do his duty."
The British were able to take the entire French Navy, but in the process, Nelson was killed by a sharpshooter. In order to give him the state funeral that he deserved, his men dropped him into a cask of brandy to preserve his body. Three months later, they pulled out a pickled Nelson. His body was mostly intact, and England gave him a hero's burial. And, Nelson's men toasted him with the brandy he had been preserved in. Gross.
Other than Nelson's column, Trafalgar Square houses the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, and sculptures of Napier, Havelock, and King George IV. The fourth plinth was empty, but after its sculpture changed every day for a year, Nelson's ship in a bottle was finally chosen to take a permanent place.
There is also a sculpture of King Charles I riding a horse. He is known as the martyr king. Charles I attempted to take over Parliament in the Second Civil War, but the Royalists were defeated by Oliver Cromwell and the revolutionaries. As a result, Charles I was tried and found guilty of treason, and therefore sentenced to death by beheading. On the chilly day of, he wore two shirts so he wouldn't shiver and thus appear to be weak. The executioner lopped of his head and Cromwell held it up to the crowd. Instead of desecrating the body, however, Cromwell ordered that the head be stitched back on so the family could pay its respects. When Cromwell died in 1658, Charles II was restored to the monarchy. He was pretty mad about his fathers death, so he punished the other living regicides. Some had already died... so he had Cromwell and a few other men disinterred, hanged, and beheaded posthumously! Charles II went on to have at least 12 children by 7 mistresses, but no legit heirs. More on him later.
Pall Mall
This is the place with the fancy shops where the royals go. These places are all approved by the monarchy. Sure, the commoners can go there, but the goods are all too expensive. There is a seal on the building to show that it is royally approved. On this road we passed the Crimean War memorial, complete with statues of Sidney Herbert and Florence Nightingale OM (Order of Merit). They worked together for the cause of Army health.
St. James Palace
This palace was built by Henry VIII on the grounds where a lepers' hospital formerly stood. It was the home of many kings before a fire destroyed part of it (Henry VIII, Charles I, Charles II, all 3 Georges). It was not a regal design, so George III had purchased Buckingham house. The monarchy officially moved to Buckingham with Queen Victoria. Currently, Princess Royal Anne (Prince Charles' sister) and Princes William and Harry, and others still reside there. Though Prince William will soon be moving out.
Across the street from St. James is an interesting house. In this house, King Charles II's mistress Nell Gwyn resided. Apparently there is a tunnel that runs under Pall Mall from the palace to the house, so no one would see the King's affair. Supposedly (I have not verified this) Camilla Parker Bowles lived there too after Prince Charles divorced Diana!
From there we walked to the Mall that leads up to Buckingham Palace. The statue of Queen Victoria stands in front of the gardens at Buckingham. A couple of years ago, someone climbed up on the statue and cut off Queen Victoria's nose! The nose was, of course, replaced, but the new nose doesn't match as well to the rest of the statue.
St. James Park
After crossing the Mall that leads up to Buckingham Palace, we walked through St. James Park. This park was formerly a deer park (the likely setting for Robin Hood) but was landscaped and turned into a menagerie by James I. Charles II used it as a place to entertain guests (and mistresses!)and opened it to the public.
Horse Guards
Here we saw the changing of the Horse Guards. There were 6 guards on foot and two on horses. The guards on foot did some sword drills and exited, leaving the guards on horses. These guards dismounted with some weird movements including slapping the mane of their horse (drawing awws from the crowd), and led their horses away. New guards came out to their posts (one almost ran me over). Tourists clustered around to have their picture taken next to him. Poor guy had a smudge on his cuff, but he wasn't allowed to move to fix it.
Parliament Square
This is the square on which Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament sit. Statues of prime ministers sit all around the central area. Interestingly, there is also a statue of Abraham Lincoln here (England liked Lincoln until the Emancipation Proclamation). There is also a statue of Winston Churchill, who bears a striking resemblance to Gru from Despicable Me.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a huge, famous cathedral on Parliament Square. Kings, artists, authors, and servants of England are buried here. You too can be buried here 1. if you become a monarch or 2. if you die inside the Abbey. I don't know if anyone has taken them up on the offer.
Parliament
The Houses of Parliament are actually in Westminster Palace. It was the primary residence of kings until it was mostly destroyed in a fire in 1512. There are 3 towers: the Central Tower, Victoria Tower, and the Clock Tower. Victoria Tower is where the sovereign enters to begin Parliament. The sovereign is not permitted to stay for the proceedings of Parliament, however, due to Charles I's attempted takeover. Victoria Tower also houses the Parliamentary Archives.
Big Ben
Big Ben is actually the name of the largest bell in the clock tower, not the name of the clocktower itself. It was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who helped repair Westminster Palace after its destruction. The clocktower was the largest 4-face clocktower in the world. It has only occasionally ceased function. During World Wars I and II, the lights of the clocktower were shut off so they wouldn't guide zeppelins or Blitz pilots to London.
The British were able to take the entire French Navy, but in the process, Nelson was killed by a sharpshooter. In order to give him the state funeral that he deserved, his men dropped him into a cask of brandy to preserve his body. Three months later, they pulled out a pickled Nelson. His body was mostly intact, and England gave him a hero's burial. And, Nelson's men toasted him with the brandy he had been preserved in. Gross.
Other than Nelson's column, Trafalgar Square houses the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, and sculptures of Napier, Havelock, and King George IV. The fourth plinth was empty, but after its sculpture changed every day for a year, Nelson's ship in a bottle was finally chosen to take a permanent place.
There is also a sculpture of King Charles I riding a horse. He is known as the martyr king. Charles I attempted to take over Parliament in the Second Civil War, but the Royalists were defeated by Oliver Cromwell and the revolutionaries. As a result, Charles I was tried and found guilty of treason, and therefore sentenced to death by beheading. On the chilly day of, he wore two shirts so he wouldn't shiver and thus appear to be weak. The executioner lopped of his head and Cromwell held it up to the crowd. Instead of desecrating the body, however, Cromwell ordered that the head be stitched back on so the family could pay its respects. When Cromwell died in 1658, Charles II was restored to the monarchy. He was pretty mad about his fathers death, so he punished the other living regicides. Some had already died... so he had Cromwell and a few other men disinterred, hanged, and beheaded posthumously! Charles II went on to have at least 12 children by 7 mistresses, but no legit heirs. More on him later.
Pall Mall
This is the place with the fancy shops where the royals go. These places are all approved by the monarchy. Sure, the commoners can go there, but the goods are all too expensive. There is a seal on the building to show that it is royally approved. On this road we passed the Crimean War memorial, complete with statues of Sidney Herbert and Florence Nightingale OM (Order of Merit). They worked together for the cause of Army health.
St. James Palace
This palace was built by Henry VIII on the grounds where a lepers' hospital formerly stood. It was the home of many kings before a fire destroyed part of it (Henry VIII, Charles I, Charles II, all 3 Georges). It was not a regal design, so George III had purchased Buckingham house. The monarchy officially moved to Buckingham with Queen Victoria. Currently, Princess Royal Anne (Prince Charles' sister) and Princes William and Harry, and others still reside there. Though Prince William will soon be moving out.
Across the street from St. James is an interesting house. In this house, King Charles II's mistress Nell Gwyn resided. Apparently there is a tunnel that runs under Pall Mall from the palace to the house, so no one would see the King's affair. Supposedly (I have not verified this) Camilla Parker Bowles lived there too after Prince Charles divorced Diana!
From there we walked to the Mall that leads up to Buckingham Palace. The statue of Queen Victoria stands in front of the gardens at Buckingham. A couple of years ago, someone climbed up on the statue and cut off Queen Victoria's nose! The nose was, of course, replaced, but the new nose doesn't match as well to the rest of the statue.
St. James Park
After crossing the Mall that leads up to Buckingham Palace, we walked through St. James Park. This park was formerly a deer park (the likely setting for Robin Hood) but was landscaped and turned into a menagerie by James I. Charles II used it as a place to entertain guests (and mistresses!)and opened it to the public.
Horse Guards
Here we saw the changing of the Horse Guards. There were 6 guards on foot and two on horses. The guards on foot did some sword drills and exited, leaving the guards on horses. These guards dismounted with some weird movements including slapping the mane of their horse (drawing awws from the crowd), and led their horses away. New guards came out to their posts (one almost ran me over). Tourists clustered around to have their picture taken next to him. Poor guy had a smudge on his cuff, but he wasn't allowed to move to fix it.
Parliament Square
This is the square on which Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament sit. Statues of prime ministers sit all around the central area. Interestingly, there is also a statue of Abraham Lincoln here (England liked Lincoln until the Emancipation Proclamation). There is also a statue of Winston Churchill, who bears a striking resemblance to Gru from Despicable Me.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a huge, famous cathedral on Parliament Square. Kings, artists, authors, and servants of England are buried here. You too can be buried here 1. if you become a monarch or 2. if you die inside the Abbey. I don't know if anyone has taken them up on the offer.
Parliament
The Houses of Parliament are actually in Westminster Palace. It was the primary residence of kings until it was mostly destroyed in a fire in 1512. There are 3 towers: the Central Tower, Victoria Tower, and the Clock Tower. Victoria Tower is where the sovereign enters to begin Parliament. The sovereign is not permitted to stay for the proceedings of Parliament, however, due to Charles I's attempted takeover. Victoria Tower also houses the Parliamentary Archives.
Big Ben
Big Ben is actually the name of the largest bell in the clock tower, not the name of the clocktower itself. It was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who helped repair Westminster Palace after its destruction. The clocktower was the largest 4-face clocktower in the world. It has only occasionally ceased function. During World Wars I and II, the lights of the clocktower were shut off so they wouldn't guide zeppelins or Blitz pilots to London.
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