What's Going on with the Euston Arch?
Some time ago I was looking into the Euston Arch, which was destroyed in the early 60s when Euston Station was modernised, despite a vigorous campaign led by Sir John Betjeman and others to save it.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the web site of the Euston Arch Trust, an organisation set up to recover as many of the stones from the old arch as possible and restore it at an appropriate site back near the station. Among its leading lights are Dan Cruickshank and Michael Palin. It’s an excellent web site, I’m sure you’ll agree, with lots of handy and interesting information. It instils a feeling of optimism. The only problem is, not much seems to have been happening for at least a couple of years. No news updates, no blog posts etc.
I sent them an email at least six months ago, asking for the latest news on the project, and how could London Historians help them spread the word? That kind of thing. No reply. Last night I noticed that the secretary of the Trust was on Facebook, so (and I don’t really like to do this, but needs must), I sent him a message asking the same. I’m hoping he’ll get back to me.
I really believe this is a worthwhile project. It’s such a shame that it appears to have stalled, possibly terminally. If anyone knows Messrs. Cruickshank or Palin or anyone associated with the Trust, we’d be most grateful to hear what you can find out.
An interesting and exciting project if it could be carried through but the Web site is obviously dead (in addition to lack of recent activity and a failure to answer your email, many links don’t work) and this probably means the project is too.
Recovering the stones and transporting them, let alone getting a site and undertaking building work, would all be very expensive, I imagine. It’s not something to be undertaken lightly. I think it would need huge funding, perhaps from the Lottery Fund plus an appeal for public donations. If only 60% of stones are available, the rest would have to be replaced with replicas and that would cost a lot too.
Then again, projects like this do sometimes succeed against all the odds. Regretfully, I think this one is unlikely to get anywhere.
Incidentally, the pub attached to Euston Station that used to be called The Head of Steam was some time ago renamed The Doric Arch. Some might see that as an omen!
It is a long shot and a challenge, I agree. A question of determination and keeping things going, they appear to have failed on both counts. I think this is the type of project that would have enjoyed strong public support, and it would be a nice memorial to the great Betjeman to succeed in it.
I was going to reveal my ignorance and ask what arch? But I now assume arch must mean architrave? I shall look for the ghost of the arch on my upcoming trip to London. It certainly is unfortunate that the website appears dormant.
Jennifer
I see what you’re saying, I think, because it has not curved arch-y shape, a la Wellingtons’s, Marble, Constantine’s, de Triomph etc. Looks more like a temple than an arch. Well, it’s called an arch and was designed, I guess, for people and vehicles to travel through. So…
I recently emailed Gavin Stamp (a committee member) he said in his reply that the trust is dormant for now but can be reactivated if the chance arises. Until there is developments with Euston nothing can be done for now.
email me if you want to know anything more or a email address for him at
jmeacher@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks Jack, that’s a shame, but at the very least they should put a statement to this effect on the Trust website so that people who have invested a little time (eg me) and others who have no doubt invested money (eg not me) could at least know the position and concentrate on more worthwhile endeavours. Thanks again for the info, not shooting the messenger!
I thought this was a rather exciting plan for the reinstatement of a fine architectural feature, even if it is (a) a replica and (b) not on the original site (that’s actually impossible). The Trust wanted to tie up the plan with a proposed rebuild of Euston Station, but that has now been shelved. Nevertheless, the Arch would definitely be an attractive focal point at what is currently the least interesting railway terminus in London.