Simon Bradley traces the history of the station, introducing us to the men behind the architecture and looks at its new international status. This fine new edition includes a fascinating chapter on the new hotel and some timely revisions bringing it fully up to date. 'A marvellous piece of social, aesthetic and technological history... it is impossible to praise Bradley's book too highly' A. N. Wilson, Daily Telegraph 'Brilliantly and with deft hand, Simon Bradley makes sense of it all ... fabulous' Sunday Telegraph 'A masterpiece of historical context ... immensely readable' Sunday Times 'This fine book examines the history of both the church that gave the station its name and the railway terminus ... unexpectedly compelling' Daily Mail
This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which St Pancras Station has changed and developed over the last century and a half.
This classic transport history book by the late Jack Sirnmons is reissued to coincide with the transformation of the station into the new terminus for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The station and its hotel are unique buildings. The station used groundbreaking engineering in having (and still having) the largest single span roof in Europe. The hotel, built by George Gilbert Scott, is a masterpiece of neo?Gothic. Both station and hotel suffered decline in the 20th century and were threatened with demolition, but they are now about to enter into a new role as the station is doubled in size, and the hotel is once again made into a spectacular hotel and apartments. The book has been sensitively revised, and with a new chapter bringing the story up to date, by architectural historian Robert Thorne. This book is a must for anyone interested in railways.
Sunday Times History Book of the Year 2015 Currently filming for BBC programme Full Steam Ahead Britain's railways have been a vital part of national life for nearly 200 years. Transforming lives and landscapes, they have left their mark on everything from timekeeping to tourism. As a self-contained world governed by distinctive rules and traditions, the network also exerts a fascination all its own. From the classical grandeur of Newcastle station to the ceaseless traffic of Clapham Junction, from the mysteries of Brunel's atmospheric railway to the lost routines of the great marshalling yards, Simon Bradley explores the world of Britain's railways, the evolution of the trains, and the changing experiences of passengers and workers. The Victorians' private compartments, railway rugs and footwarmers have made way for air-conditioned carriages with airline-type seating, but the railways remain a giant and diverse anthology of structures from every period, and parts of the system are the oldest in the world. Using fresh research, keen observation and a wealth of cultural references, Bradley weaves from this network a remarkable story of technological achievement, of architecture and engineering, of shifting social classes and gender relations, of safety and crime, of tourism and the changing world of work. The Railways shows us that to travel through Britain by train is to journey through time as well as space.
Discover the architectural gems that are Britain's 100 Best Railway Stations in this Sunday Times top 10 bestseller 'This is a cracker . . . a beautiful book' Chris Evans It is the scene for our hopeful beginnings and our intended ends, and the timeless experiences of coming and going, meeting, greeting and parting. It is an institution with its own rituals and priests, and a long-neglected aspect of Britain's architecture. And yet so little do we look at the railway station. Simon Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of Great Britain, from Waterloo to Wemyss Bay, Betws-y-Coed to Beverley, to select his hundred best railway stations. Blending his usual insight and authority with his personal reflections and experiences - including his founding the Railway Heritage Trust - the foremost expert on our national heritage deftly reveals the history, geography, design and significance of each of these glories. Beautifully illustrated with colour photographs throughout, this joyous exploration of our social history shows the station's role in the national imagination; champions the engineers, architects and rival companies that made them possible; and tells the story behind the triumphs and follies of these very British creations. These are the marvellous, often undersung places that link our nation, celebrated like never before. 'However spectacular the book's photographs, it's the author's prowess as a phrase-maker that keeps you turning the pages' The Times 'An uplifting exploration of our social history' Guardian
From New York's Empire State Building to the Eiffel Tower, Dubai's iconic Burj Al Arab hotel to London's St Pancras station, this is a glorious, full colour celebration of the world's most distinctive buildings and urban icons, recreated in LEGO bricks. Brick City is a celebration of the world's favourite buildings and urban icons, recreated solely using LEGO bricks. While to many, LEGO bricks are 'just a toy,' to an ever-growing army of fans they provide a challenging and enjoyable modelling medium. These fans, calling themselves 'AFOLs' or Adult Fans of LEGO have taken it upon themselves to recreate local landmarks using just the bricks that you find at a local store. LEGO models created by adult fans though, don't resemble those that many people created as a child. Created by masters of their medium, these fabulously detailed models may contain thousands of pieces - or perhaps just a handful. Either way, the talented artists have an intimate knowledge of every piece and colour available; skilfully choosing the ideal piece to recreate a well-known landmark. Sometimes creating a model indistinguishable from the real thing, or evoking the spirit of a building in just a few small pieces. In fact, landmarks and cityscapes - from the New York skyline to the Sagrada Familia, London's St. Pancras, and the amazing towers of Beijing and Hong Kong - have long been a source of inspiration for LEGO builders. In this book, Warren Elsmore takes us on a world tour and explores more than 12 global cities and their iconic structures. Each city is examined and recreated in LEGO form. Comprising amazing artwork, exploratory photographs, and detailed breakdowns, Brick City looks at the essence of what makes an urban landscape recognisable.
London hosts a dozen major railway stations, more than any comparable city. King's Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Marylebone, Paddington, Victoria, Charing Cross, Cannon Street, Waterloo, London Bridge, Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street--these great termini are the hub of London's transport system and their complex history, of growth, decline and epic renewal has determined much of the city's character today. Christian Wolmar tells the dramatic and compelling story of how these great cathedrals of steam were built by competing private railway companies between 1836 and 1900, reveals their immediate impact on the capital and explores the evolution of the stations and the city up to the present day.
