Architectural Appreciation: The Glory of London’s Mainline Railway Termini

This Day School starts with an analysis of the initial growth of the railways as they penetrated into London, and the eventual development of an overall strategy for the location of the main railway termini. The early stations were seen by their railway companies as flag-bearers for the quality and efficiency of their services, and so were designed to be attractive and impressive, seen by many as “the Cathedrals of the Modern Age”.

The sheer scale of the buildings required made them stand out in the city-scape of 19th century London. The vast, revolutionary engine sheds of stations such as Kings Cross, St Pancras and Paddington provided the air-space required to dissipate the steam and smoke of the great steam locomotives, while affording protection for travellers from the wind and rain of London. Most of those stations serving long-distance travel had their engine sheds fronted by grand hotels.

This Day School tells the stories of each of the 12 great termini in turn, assessing their architects, architectural styles and distinctive design features, and recalling how often they have been featured in the art, literature and dramas of London over the last 150 years.