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.
Credit for this entry to: Bob Baker
