I had posted Both those Euston towers gone; trees felled by #HS2, grass turned to concrete by #HS2 for taxi rank, used briefly. The quakers destroyed the southern half of the Square about 1920, #HS2 the rest now. Photo by me.
and Simon had replied:
Euston Square Gardens South was a 1920’s land grab — 100 yrs later much the same is happening again.
Writing in 1923 to the Times university constituency MP Sir Sydney Russell-Wells stated
“once built on, it goes without saying that the land is lost forever”
I was trying to keep out of this awful project but we had a request for support from tenants in Camden, part of the pan-Camden HS2 alliance, and I’m glad to say that three UCL Bartlett students offered to help (I’ll name them if they agree). We took part in some meetings, wrote some structuring suggestions to frame the immense local and technical knowledge available and provided some editorial support. We hope it was helpful. Will add some links when I have them.
With the Olympic games just a few days away, workmen miraculously appeared, tinkered with damaged paving and added new tarmac where the historic puddle was. So there is an olympic legacy for all to see. I doubt if I’ll have time to discover who decided to do it but I can imagine the emails, the meetings, the bickering and the contracts involved in fixing problems which ought to have been sorted years ago. Below is the new tarmac today (25 July 2012):
But…
One step forward but now a step back. A welcome board for the Olympics is sitting in the Euston Forecourt which directs people East to the British Museum. Should be South. And remind me about the “sculpted” bit of Regent’s Park… Must be the flattest place in London.
Later (7 October 2012): Drainage still keeping the puddle empty two months later. It really does seem to work. Now let’s see if anyone clears the drain when it next clogs.
In other Euston news: UCL is moving into some of the office blocks vacated by Network Rail. Nice for passing UCL people because our Eduroam WiFi fills the forecourt, hitherto (and still for everyone else) a nasty pay-zone.
19 April. London is ensuring that this historic puddle, which for years has been delaying and infuriating passengers entering and leaving Euston Station, is conserved as part of preparations for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, starting 100 days from now.
My lengthy correspondence a few years ago led to some abortive works by one of the many public bodies, all of whom deny responsibility. The puddle could easily have been lost, but is now back in it’s full width and depth. Joe Barnes of Liverpool tweets on 18 April “…I nearly drowned…” Click on the photo for more images, then on slideshow. Continue reading “Euston's historic puddle ready for Olympic guests”
As the rains begin in October 2010, back comes the Euston Square Puddle.
This most un-cared-for of London squares is as grotty now as a year ago. Long saga of multiple agencies, none taking proper responsibility. Back story is at https://michaeledwards.org.uk/?p=181
[action at last! – December 2009 – but an ice hazard in January 2010. Serious action in February. See end of this post. For 2012 Olympic update see https://michaeledwards.org.uk/?p=1078 ]
3 September 2009: For four decades I have been commuting daily through Euston in London where I (and thousands of others) walk to and from the station through a public garden, Euston Square. Just where we all pass through a narrow gap (between railings and a wall) there is a puddle. It’s been there for decades and looks like this [click the picture for more shots] On 2 September 2009 I decided to report it. Continue reading “Light relief: the Euston Puddle”
michael edwards 