St. Pancras Station, London

[bixaorellana]

Here are some snaps -- post cards, if you will -- that I took in and around St. Pancras.
I imagine others might have their own pictures of the station and perhaps some of King's Cross railway station as well. If so, it would be lovely if you'd add them to this thread, the title of which can always be changed to include King's Cross.

I'd taken a hotel in Argyle Square for my last two nights in London. It was an enormous thrill to finally meet up with mickthecactus in the Square at the end of June this year.

Just a picture I grabbed in the area with an eye to the Image Bank thread dedicated to old commercial signs ~

Yes, I took the following four pictures, but Mick is really responsible as it was his keen eye that spotted the lovely Art Deco ~









Once on my own again, I made sure I found where to board the Eurostar and also got some photos of this grand Victorian architecture.
Some history here. All information included below is from that source.











A view over to King's Cross station ~



The roof is made up of a series of wrought iron ribs resulting in a space 100ft high, 240ft wide and 700ft long.
It was the largest single spanned roof in the world when first built ...

[bixaorellana]

A 9m tall bronze statue of an intimate pose by the world renowned sculptor Paul Day.



... its plinth carries a beautiful high-relief frieze in bronze, featuring images from the history of the tube and train.























Sir John Betjeman was responsible for saving the Station and the Chambers from demolition in the 1960's.
In tribute to the famous poet and railway enthusiast an 8.5ft sculpture by Martin Jennings has been designed to celebrate the man and his poetry.



That's all I've got until I make a return trip, so it's >time< for me to go ~

[mossie]

Thanks Bixa for this brief glimpse of a wonderful piece of architecture, pity todays architects are not as accomplished. I rush through without any thought but getting on the train or the tube, perhaps next time I will use my eyes.

[cheerypeabrain]

Brilliant. X

[bixaorellana]

Thanks to you both! Mossie, it would be a treat for us all if you use your camera, too.

Now to say something completely stupid (but honest) ~ one thing that amazed me in London was how much BIGGER all the iconic sights were than I'd ever imagined. Yes, I know I'm hicky, but really -- wow. Okay, not the modern stuff like the Gherkin, etc., but the Parliament buildings, the Albert Memorial, St. Pancras Station, things like that. Big, really really big.

[bjd]

Jan 2, 2017 18:05:04 GMT bixaorellana said:

Now to say something completely stupid (but honest) ~ one thing that amazed me in London was how much BIGGER all the iconic sights were than I'd ever imagined. Yes, I know I'm hicky, but really -- wow. Okay, not the modern stuff like the Gherkin, etc., but the Parliament buildings, the Albert Memorial, St. Pancras Station, things like that. Big, really really big.

I think the size can be explained by the time they were built -- the late 19th century when Britain was at its apogee of colonial and political power. The size was a reflection of how the country saw itself. (Rather like the Soviets in the mid-20th century.)

[mickthecactus]

That was a lovely day Bixa - thanks.

Incidentally in my youth I was a very keen train spotter (get that anorak out) and Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston were all in close walking proximity so I was frequently in that area.

[Deleted]

I have studied the base of the bronze statue many times. It is just as fascinating each time.

[bixaorellana]

Thanks, Bjd -- great explanation & perfect comparison. The Albert Memorial actually shocked me with its imperialist arrogance.

Mick, I had no idea. Hidden depths! Anyway, that was a lovely day because of you and I'm eternally grateful and flattered that you came all that way to see me. (and to spot Streamline Moderne)

You'll get a laugh out of this, Kerouac, since you know that people who insist on taking pictures of themselves or others in front of significant places always provoke eyerolls in me. While I was taking pictures of that statue and its base, a young woman interrupted me to ask if I'd take her picture. She handed me her phone and posed in front of the base. She was quite sweet and seemed thrilled with my efforts.

[bixaorellana]

I thought this article was interesting, especially since it was something I wondered:

Why Are King's Cross And St Pancras Stations So Close To One Another?