This day-school reviews the great London termini of the rail network that radiates out to all parts of Britain and the Continent. These famous structures, many remaining from the Victorian period with all the panache and ambition of that era, still play a major role in defining the London of today. The great iron and glass train sheds of St Pancras, Paddington and King's Cross provide massive exemplars of the work of iconic engineers such as Barlow, Brunel and Cubitt. The hotels and facades fronting most of these stations were designed by the nation's leading architects including Scott, Hardwick and Blomfield. Students will review the chequered history of these stations since those heady times, explore the literary references and art associated with each, and assess the best and the worst of the changes wrought by changing requirements, wars and modern architects and engineers.
Additional information about this course
This course is not supported by The Education and Skills Funding agency and does not have a fee waiver but concessions may be available. Contact the branch for further details.
Course aim
The course explores London's great railway stations and studies the history, design, architecture and art of these buildings that enrich the start of our travels throughout Britain and beyond.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- No skills or experience needed
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Outline the planning constraints which determined the locations of the Termini around the centre of London.
- List those London Termini which are little changed from the Victorian era.
- Identify the great engineers, architects and designers responsible for Paddington and St Pancras stations.
- Cite a well-known literary work and a play that involve respectively the mainline stations at Victoria and at King’s Cross.
- Describe the two major statues at St Pancras, and the rationale for their subject matter.
How will I be taught?
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
What else do I need to know?
- Nothing else is needed
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
- The booklet "Discovering London Railway Stations" by Oliver Green is an ideal introduction to this subject.
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- The tutor's courses on the architecture and art of the London Underground and on British Architecture are appropriate follow-on courses for students on this course.
Download full course information sheet
Day School: London's Great Railway Stations - Architectural Masterworks
