I am old enough to remember the furore caused by the proposal to demolish the Euston Arch and the ultimately unsuccessful endeavours to save it. Along with the failure also to preserve the Coal Exchange these two campaigns were the beginning of active resistance to the demolition culture of mid-twentieth century Britain, which certainly predated the Second World War. The change in attitudes over succeeding decades is remarkable and heartening, although far too much was lost that could, and should, have been saved. At least the Arch’s neighbouring Victorian station, St Pancras, after the threat of demolition and consequent neglect, has been restored and appreciated, and given a new purpose. There is a Country Life 2008 account of the renovation of St Pancras at The immaculate restoration of the once-despised architecture of St Pancras station
This week Country Life has an article about the Euston Arch and the equally impressive, if less often remembered, Great Hall which was also destroyed as part of the rebuilding scheme in 1962.
Today it is depressing to stand outside the bland unmemorable facade of Euston and see a plaque indicating where the Arch once stood. Someone really should start a serious campaign to recreate the Euston Arch on its original site.
The illustrated article can be seen at Curious Questions: Why was the original Euston Station destroyed in one of the greatest acts of cultural vandalism Britain has ever seen?
However it does not quite answer the question in its title, and explore the forces, the arguments, in favour of destruction. Brash modernity was backed right up to Cabinet level as part of the ‘received opinion’ of the times. The loss of the Euston Arch spurred on the heroic efforts of conservation campaigners, but was also ultimately a victory for the institutional vandals.
