St Pancras Hotel and Station
Credit: Janet Hall from the RIBA collections
See also: The Construction of St Pancras
St Pancras Station: A Gateway to the North
The conception of St Pancras Station began in the 1860s, when the Midland Railway sought to establish a London terminus to rival those of the other major railway companies. The chosen site, north of King’s Cross, required a design that could house not only a functional railway station but also a hotel that would embody the prestige of the railway company.
The architectural competition for the station and hotel was won by George Gilbert Scott whose design for St Pancras Station was a departure from the more utilitarian structures that characterised earlier railway architecture. Instead, he embraced a free Gothic style, combining functionality with aesthetic grandeur. The station’s vast train shed, worked on by the engineer William Henry Barlow, was the largest single-span structure in the world at the time, measuring 240 feet across and 689 feet in length.
Scott’s design for the station’s exterior was equally impressive, with a red brick and terracotta façade that combined elements of Gothic architecture with Renaissance influences. The station’s clock tower, rising 280 feet above the ground, became a landmark in its own right, symbolizing the importance of rail travel in Victorian Britain.
Credit: RIBA collections
The Midland Hotel: A Palace of the People
Adjacent to St Pancras Station, the Midland Hotel (now known as the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel) was designed to be a luxurious accommodation for travellers arriving in London. Scott’s vision for the hotel was ambitious, aiming to create a building that would rival the grandeur of the medieval cathedrals he so admired.
The hotel’s interiors were equally lavish, with grand staircases, spacious public rooms, and luxurious guest suites. Scott paid great attention to detail, incorporating elements such as wrought-iron balustrades, carved woodwork, and ornate ceilings that reflected the height of Victorian craftsmanship. The central staircase, often referred to as the ‘Grand Staircase’, became one of the most renowned features of the hotel.
Despite its architectural splendor, the Midland Hotel faced financial difficulties shortly after its opening in 1873. The hotel’s operating costs were high, and it struggled to attract enough guests to justify its opulence. By the 1930s, the hotel had closed its doors, and the building fell into disrepair.
Restoration and Revival
The decline of the Midland Hotel and St Pancras Station mirrored the waning importance of rail travel in the mid-twentieth century. By the 1960s, there were even plans to demolish the station and hotel to make way for more modern developments. However, a growing appreciation for Victorian architecture and the efforts of conservationists led to a change in fortune for these historic buildings.
In the 1980s, the station was granted Grade I listed status in recognition of its historical and architectural significance. This listing helped to protect the station from demolition and paved the way for its restoration. The hotel, too, was eventually recognised for its architectural importance, and in 2004, work began on a major restoration project to return the building to its former glory.
The restoration of St Pancras Station and the Midland Hotel was completed earlier this century, transforming the site into a vibrant hub for travelers and visitors. The station now serves as the London terminus for the Eurostar, connecting the UK to mainland Europe, while the hotel, renamed the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, once again offers accommodation to guests.
