Statue

The 17ft high statue of the one armed Nelson which sits on top of the landmark was designed by Edmund Hodges Baily. Baily won second place in the competition to design Nelson�s memorial and was given the commission by the Nelson Monument Committee.
 
The 16-ton statue was hoisted up on Guy Fawkes� Day, 1843. Ever since, the height of the column means that visitors to Trafalgar Square have been unable to see Nelson�s face.

Nelson close up © PA News
The Statue of Nelson attracted large crowds before it was placed on top of the colossal column © Westminster City Archive
Contemporary photograph by Jeremy Young