Statue

(lost) Robert Stephenson statue

Inscription

Robert Stephenson Born October 16th 1803. Died October 12th 1859.

The scroll in his right hand probably represents engineering designs.

Site: Robert Stephenson statue (1 memorial)

NW1, Euston Road

We had thought that this statue of Stephenson was the statue that can be seen in photos of the Great Hall of the Victorian Euston Station. However that statue does not quite tally with this one so we re-researched and found this in the Listing text: "... presented to the London & North Western Railway by the Institute of Civil Engineers ... the statue formerly stood between the two entrance lodges in Euston Square, and with them is the only survivor of the formal 1870 layout which, with the Doric Arch, was destroyed in 1969."

So, what happened to the other statue of Stephenson, the one in the photos of the Great Hall? Engineering-Timelines gives: "In 1849, the station was enlarged and the Great Hall constructed. It featured a marble statue of Stephenson's father, George Stephenson (1781-1848), by Edward Hodges Baily (1788-1867) — now at the National Railway Museum, York."

So we (and others) had confused a marble statue of George S. with a bronze statue of his son Robert S. Whoops. But we think we've got it straight now.

The Euston Arch Trust (2019: sadly link has died) has lots of fascinating stuff about the Station, the Square and that Arch.

2020: The statue has been taken into storage while the HS2 works continue.

2025: This is London pointed us to the Council's Planning Applications which contain: "2025/0612/HS2 ... Heritage Agreement Method Statement for the temporary relocation of the statue of Robert Stephenson from HS2 storage to the Locomotion Museum in Shildon, Durham for public display." Then Yahoo News reported that the plans have been approved.

2025: Sounds like the statue has gone for at least 10 years: BBCIan Visits reporting on the removal of the statue says that it had already been shuffled around outside the station, moving in the 1960s and again in 2008.

Credit for this entry to: Bob Baker

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Robert Stephenson statue

Subjects commemorated i

Robert Stephenson

Railway and civil engineer.  Born near Newcastle upon Tyne.  Son of George St...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Robert Stephenson statue

Created by i

Institution of Civil Engineers

The professional institution for civil engineers, with members in the UK and ...

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Baron Carlo Marochetti

Born Turin. Lived in France most of his life but escaped to London in 1848. B...

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