Euston Arch

The Arch, in 1896

The Euston Arch was an archway built at the front of Euston railway station in London. It was built in 1837 by the London and Birmingham Railway. The people in charge of the new and modern railway wanted passengers to have a good feeling about the station. They built the large arch as a gate in front of the station to attract attention.

Four columns supported the arch. The outside two columns were plain and square. The inside two were circular and decorated in the Doric style. This Doric style gave the arch its common name of "The Doric Arch".

Originally, the words "London and Birmingham Railway" marked the top of the gate. In 1870, the letters EUSTON in gold were carved into the beam across the tops of the four columns. This railway company had joined other companies to form the London and North Western Railway. This new company did not want passengers to use the old name. It changed the name of the arch from the company name to the station name.

Demolition

In 1960s, Britain was modernising the railways. Diesel locomotives were replacing of steam locomotives. Overhead electric wires were added to the important line from Euston Station in London to the North West of England. The old Euston station was also to replaced. The railway added more platforms and more space at the front of the station for cars. By 1961 the Arch had been removed.

Birmingham

The Northern station of the railway was at Curzon Street in Birmingham. That station was decorated with large pillars too and it still stands today. The columns at Curzon Street are Ionic instead of Doric. This means that the columns are plain, not fluted.

Euston Arch Media

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  The Euston Arch in the 1890s

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  Entrance Front of the London Station by C. F. Cheffins, published 3 April 1837.

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  Construction of the Euston Arch, London, January 1838, by John Cooke Bourne; reminiscent of David Roberts' drawings of ancient Egypt.

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  Ground plan of Euston station 1838. The grey areas were open granite paving. The Euston Arch is on the left (south) of the plan between its four lodges, forming a grand entrance to the station building, on the departures side of the station

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  The breakers moved in on 6 November 1961. This photograph was taken on a wet 12 February 1962.

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  The main gates from the Euston Arch, now in the care of the National Railway Museum, York

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  A part of one of the columns is recovered from the Prescott Channel in 1994