THE CHARING CROSS (London)
Usually passed by without a second
look by commuters rushing in and out of Charing Cross Station, the present Eleanor
Cross is a replacement for the original cross pulled down by order of parliament
in 1647.
Queen Eleanor was the wife of Edward 1st and the cross is one
of many erected at points on the journey where her body was rested on its way
from Lincoln to Westminster for burial. The mediaeval cross was situated
at the top of Whitehall but the South Eastern Railway commissioned the
replacement cross to be built on the forecourt of its new station in The Strand.
Designed by E M Barry dates from 1863-5, is a prime
example of 19C Victorian Gothic and has been listed Grade 11*. The Eleanor
Cross stands 70ft high and was constructed by Thomas Earp of Lambeth from Portland stone, Mansfield stone and
Aberdeen granite.
Recently cleaned and restored it lacks
any information/interpretation on site, I raised this with English Heritage but
they advised me that it was up to Network Rail to provide this as it was on
their property – I intend to take this up with N R to see what they say.
Next time you are on the Strand take a
closer look at the cross, but watch out for the taxis which use it as a
roundabout!
