religious
William Inwood and Henry Inwood, 1822
Euston Road/Upper Woburn Place NW1, NW1 2BA
The church (1822 - Grade I listed) is an early and important example of Greek Revival architecture in London. Significant features include the caryatids and tower copied from the Acropolis and the atmospheric crypt.
Euston, Euston Square, King's Cross St. Pancras
Euston, King's Cross
30, 73, 91, 59, 68, 168, 18, 205, 253, 390
11:00–14:00
Pancras is little known, as there are relatively few churches in Britain dedicated to him. He was a boy soldier who was martyred in 304AD for refusing to betray his Christian faith.
Following a huge increase in the local population in the early 1800s there was a need for a new large church. In 1816 William Inwood and his son Henry won an architectural competition to design the church. Henry then travelled to Greece for inspiration and returned with drawings as a starting point for their design. The foundation stone was laid in 1819 and the church was consecrated in 1822.
The design was inspired by the Temple of the Erechtheum in Athens. At the east end are projecting wings on both sides which stand over the entrance to the crypt. They have roofs supported by caryatids, again modelled on examples in Athens. The tower is based on the Tower of the Winds in Athens and stands 156 feet tall.
From the entrance portico an octagonal vestibule leads into the main body of the church. Galleries run along the whole length of the nave. The high pulpit was made from the 'Fairlop Oak' from Hainault Forest which blew down in 1820.
The apse is dominated by six Ionic columns made from imitation marble. The windows were originally clear glass. The stained glass by Clayton & Bell was added in Victorian times.
The crypt was built as a burial vault, with 557 interments between 1822 and 1855 when burials were forbidden in Central London. It served as an air raid shelter in both world wars. It is now used as the Crypt Art Gallery.
Drop in / Guided tour
institution/profession, gallery, health
Grade II* listed building. Restored in 2012 to showcase magnificent Edwardian faience tile work, mosaic floor and other historic features in transformed modern surroundings that now provide the headquarters of the RCGP.
Arthur Beresford Pite, 1908
Drop in / Walking tour
community/cultural, museum, art studio, gallery, walk/tour, event
A great little museum set in the Grade 2 listed Ossulston Estate - a prime example of pre-war Social housing - based on Karl Marz Hof in Vienna. Open Tuesday to Friday 9am-5pm, plus Saturday 14th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September 11am-4pm.
G Topham Forest, 1927
