Stones From Euston Arch Go On Display

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By M@ Last edited 107 months ago
Stones From Euston Arch Go On Display
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The arch, as it originally looked.
The arch, as it originally looked.

Fragments of one of London's great vanished landmarks have returned home. The Euston Arch, a mighty Doric structure, fronted the station until its demolition in the 1960s. Now, four of the original stones are on display outside the station, part of a campaign to have the arch rebuilt when Euston is modernised.

The stones were rediscovered by Dan Cruickshank in 1994, lining the bed of the Prescott Channel in east London. He later co-founded the Euston Arch Trust, which aims to rebuild the arch, partly with salvaged stone. The current exhibition tells the history of the site, and sets out the plans for the arch's reconstruction. As a centrepiece, you can fondle a quartet of sculpted blocks from the original arch.

Not everyone is enamoured with the structure, however. Over the decades, it's been branded everything from "A Brobdignaggian absurdity" to "A ponderous, lurking cack-bastard". We recently ran a mischievous piece spelling out six reasons the arch should not be rebuilt. Lots of readers agreed.

Whatever your views, you can see the stones on the grassy patch to the south-west of the station until 9 May.

Last Updated 02 April 2015