Statues - Hither & Thither

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Euston Road (N1) ☒
(Station London St. Pancras International)

Sir John Betjeman

London 1906 - Trebetherick, Cornwall 1984
English poet, writer and broadcaster; helped to save St Pancras station from demolition in the 1960s
(Wikipedia)

Martin Jennings
2007

Description

Bronze statue of Betjeman walking into the new station for the first time. He is looking up at the great arc of the train shed - which he always did because it took his breath away. He is leaning back and holding onto his hat, his coat tails billowing out behind him, caught by the wind from a passing train. He is carrying a Billingsgate fish basket containing books

Inscription(s)

The statue is standing on a disc of Cumbrian slate inscribed with Betjeman's name and dates and words from the poem Cornish Cliffs:

(Inner circle:)
JOHN BETJEMAN 1906-1984 POET
Who saved this glorious station

(Outer circle):
And the shadowless unclouded glare
Deep blue above us fades to whiteness where
A misty sea-line meets the wash of air

Surrounding the statue and base is a series of satellite discs of various sizes set into the floor with quotations from Betjeman's poetry.

Signature

sculptor martin jennings 2007

Annotation

Unveiled 12 November 2007 by Lycett Green, Betjeman's daughter, and the poet laureate, Andrew Motion.

London - Sir John Betjeman

Sculptor

Martin Jennings, English sculptor (Website).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, List of public art in Camden.
The Guardian, A fitting tribute to Betjeman.
Andrew Kershman, London's Monuments (London: Metro Publ., 2013), p. 352.
Peter Matthews, London's Statues and Monuments (Botley: Shire, 2012), p. 182-183.

Locatie (N 51°31'49" - W 0°7'32") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gblo111; Photograph: 7 August 2014
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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