William Railton (1800–77) was an English architect, best known as the designer of Nelson's Column. He was based in London, with offices at 12 Regent Street for much of his career.
Monumental work at Trafalgar Square.
The capital and statue at the top of Nelson's Column
St Paul's Church, Woodhouse Eaves, 1837
Holy Trinity Church, Shepherdess Walk, Hoxton, London N1
Nelson's Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built to commemorate Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar over the combined French and Spanish navies, during which he lost his life, killed by a French sniper. The monument was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by William Railton at a cost of £47,000. It is a column of the Corinthian order built from Dartmoor granite. The statue of Nelson was carved from Craigleith sandstone by sculptor Edward Hodges Baily. The four bronze lions around its base, designed by Sir Edwin Landseer, were added in 1867.
Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square
The column under construction, 1843. William Henry Fox Talbot
The column looking south towards Whitehall, The Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey
The sandstone statue by Edward Hodges Baily