St Pancras International Station, London
St Pancras International Station, War Memorial, Fabian Peake
Year
2018
Client
HS1 Ltd.
Artist
Fabian Peake
Service
Commission Management
Location
St Pancras International Station
A new commission for St Pancras Station to commemorate the end of the 14-18 First World War
Artist and writer Fabian Peake has created the first permanent war memorial for St Pancras International to commemorate all those associated with the station who lost their lives during the two World Wars.
The memorial sits on St Pancras International’s Grand Terrace, close to the location of bomb damage from two prominent air raids on the station in 1918 and 1941 - the first of which claimed the greatest number of casualties suffered in any air raid on a London station during the First World War.
“There were plans to erect a memorial at St Pancras following the First World War, but a lack of funding in 1921 meant this never happened. The centenary was the perfect moment for all of the station’s rail community to come together to ensure we pay fitting tribute to those who lost their lives in the conflict.”
“When I discovered the Midland Railway Book of Remembrance, I was fascinated with the list of occupations. It really brought home that these were ordinary people, just like you and me, doing jobs that we still do today but they went to war and did not return. I’m delighted to have been selected to design this important memorial and hope that the piece will show that one hundred years on, we are all still remembering those who fought in the World Wars.”
Inspired by the roles of the men and women that worked at St Pancras (Station, Hotel & Goods Yard), the 4-metre tall memorial is comprised of a series of job titles that represent those who left their work to fight and die for their country. Fabian has used vitreous enamel which has historically been used for signage by railway companies and is still frequently used today.
Fabian Peake is a British artist and poet. Fabian studied painting at Chelsea College of Art and at The Royal College of Art. His work has largely diversified during the past ten years and incorporates cut-outs, photography, drawing, writing, poetry and tailored wall pieces.
The memorial will be the location for the annual Armistice memorial held at the station on 11th November.
More information on the commission and the job titles that feature on the memorial can be found on the St Pancras website.
www.stpancras.com/about-us/history/war-memorial
The memorial has been commissioned by HS1, Bechtel, East Midlands Trains, Eurostar, Govia Thameslink, Manhatten Loft Corporation, Network Rail, South Eastern and UK Power Network Services.
The commission was fabricated and installed by Links Signs Ltd.
Press and media coverage
BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7fIBeb6cTE
The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/08/