The gas holders by London’s Kings Cross Station have been moved, and Culross Buildings and Culross Hall in Battlebridge Rd were demolished around 2004 for the comprehensive redevelopment of the area. The flats built in 1891-2 were home to 150 people. The housing co-operative that oversaw them was keen to show passersby that the place was home to many, painting a sign on the building’s wall.
By the mid-19th Century, King’s Cross was the busiest goods handling area in Britain. The construction of the King’s Cross Goods Station, opened in 1850, King’s Cross station in 1852, the Great Northern Hotel in 1854, the Metropolitan Railway
(the first underground station in the world) a decade later, St Pancras Station in1865-69 and the Midland Grand Hotel (St Pancras Chambers) in 1868-76.
A shift in goods movement from rail to road reduced the area. The passing of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Act in 1996 began a new chapter in the evolution of the area. Through the extension of St Pancras Station, the King’s Cross area has become an international terminus for trains to Europe via the Channel Tunnel.
Planning policy emphasis varies across the Conservation Area, a zone initially designated by the now-defunct Greater London Council (GLC) in March 1986. The designation straddled the boundary between Camden and Islington and included the Conservation Area to the east of York Way. The Conservation Area has been enlarged on two occasions since 1986. In 1991, the boundary was extended to the south of Euston Road to include the area between Judd Street, Argyle Street, Swinton Street and King’s Cross Road. The Conservation Area was extended to the north west in 1994 to include the area surrounding St
Pancras Gardens.
German Gymnasium, Cheney Rd, Kings Cross, 1990
Fete, Camley St Natural Park, 1991
King’s Cross derived its name from the sixty foot high structure which was erected as a memorial to King
George IV in 1830-35. Built at the junction of the New Road (Euston Road), Maiden Lane (York Way) and Gray’s Inn
Road, this structure was removed within fifteen years.
Kings X Radio Cars, Kings Cross Road, 1989
Recycling Machine, Camley St Natural Park, 1991
Camley St Natural Park, 1991
Viaduct, Kings X Goods Yard, Kings Cross, Camden, 1989
Gasholders, Camley St Natural Park, 1991
Western Goods Shed, Kings X Goods Yard, 1989
Gas Holders, Regent’s Canal, 1985
76-78, Caledonian Rd, 1986
Eastern Coal Drops, Kings X Goods Yard, Kings Cross, Camden, 1989
Before redevelopment, in the 1980, Kings Cross was a place for clubbing – Bagley’s, The Cross and topless Australians at Sunday’s The Church. Coal Drops Yard was a place for drug taking, squats and prostitution:
“We’d have squatters throw illegal raves that took a trip to the high court to have evicted. People would get through the fence, and you’d see the girls wandering up here with the blokes. We’d shout out so they knew someone was watching them, then go picking up needles and all that. We were supposed to report everything to the police, but it became easier just to go and have a chat. The regular squatters used to be nice as pie. I got on great with them. We’d say, ‘come on lads, you know you can’t stay here, but see you again same time tomorrow. Just make sure you’re not here when the demolition starts’.”
– Allan Horton, who worked at the Yard (via)
Argyle Walk, 1986
144-6, Kings Cross Rd, Pentonville, Islington, 1992
Lloyd’s Diary, Amwell St, Kings Cross, Islington 1986
Argyle Walk, Kings Cross, Camden 86
Garage, SMT contracts, 30-32, York Way, 1990
Triplet, Gas Holders, Goods Way, Camley St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Dodd’s The Printers, 1990
Gasholders, Culross Buildings, Battle Bridge Road, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Dancers, Mural, Stanley Buildings, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Kings Cross Radio Cars, 1990
Camley Street Natural Park, 1990
Gasholders, Goods Way, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Under the 1864 Viaduct, Kings X Goods Yard, King’s Cross, Camden, 1989
St Pancras Cafe, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Gasholders, Goods Way, Kings Cross, Camden, 1989
Railway Tavern,Jaidee, SMT contracts, 26-30, York Way, Kings Cross, Islington, 1990, 90-8a-53 The Railway Tavern and I think the rest were demolished in 2003
Connaughts Café, York Way, Kings Cross, Islington 86
Dodds the Printers, Kings Cross Road, King’s Cross, Camden, 1989
140-142,Kings Cross Rd, Pentonville, Islington, 1992
Houses, Frederick St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1986
Gasholders, Pancras Rd, Goods Way, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Cumberland Gardens, Great Percy St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1992
Eastern Coal Drops, Kings X Goods Yard, King’s Cross, Camden, 1989
Stanley Passage, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
C S K X, Initials of Camley St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1991, 91-5a-41
G Franchi & Sons, Locksmiths, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990, 90c01-02-22
St Chad’s Place, Kings Cross Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Pentonville Rd, Grays Inn Rd, Kings Cross, Camden 86
The Saloon, Hairdresser, 205, Kings Cross Rd, St Pancras, Camden, 1986
Grays Inn Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Connaughts, Kings Cross Garages Ltd, York Way, Kings Cross, Islington, 1990, 90-8a-52
G Franchi & Sons, Locksmiths, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990, 90c01-02-34
Former Kings Cross Laundry, York Way, Pentonville, Islington, 1989, 89c04-02-31
Gasholders, Pancras Rd, Goods Way, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990, 90c02-04-63
The Granary, Kings X Goods Yard, Kings Cross, Camden, 1989
Gulf Tanker, Grange Motors, York Way, Kings Cross, Islington, 1990, 90-8a-54
Kings Cross Aquarium, Caledonian Rd, Pentonville, Islington, 1990
Bridge, Granary, Regent’s Canal, Kings Cross, Camden, 1985
Ideal Stores, Jaguar Daimler Motors, Jahn, York Way, Kings Cross, Islington, 1990
Kings Cross Goods Yard, York Way, Camden 86
St Pancras Cafe, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
The Union Tavern, pub, Kings Cross Road, 52, Lloyd Baker St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1992.
A pub here in the 1740’s was called The Black Bull or The Bull in the Pound. It was renamed The Union Tavern in 1807 and rebuilt around 1820. The current building dates from 1878.
Great Northern Hotel, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Whidborne St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Dancers, Mural, Stanley Buildings, Stanley Passage, Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Bus Shelter, Euston Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1986
Gas Holders, Camley St, Goods Way, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
The Caxton Printer, Kings Cross Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Burning Poll Tax Demands, Cromer St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Corner Cafe, Phoenix Rd / Midland Rd
Regents Canal, Granary, Kings Cross Goods Yard, 1989
The Granary, Kings X Goods Yard
Gasholders, Goods Way, Kings Cross, Camden, 1989
King’s X, Railway Lands, Planning for Real, Tonbridge St, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Viaduct, Kings X Goods Yard, Kings Cross, Camden, 1989
Lloyd’s Diary, Amwell St, Kings Cross, Islington 86
Posters, Grays Inn Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, 1990
Caledonia St, Kings Cross, Islington 86
The Granary, Kings X Goods Yard, 1989
All Photos courtesy of Peter Marshall.
More from him on Flashbak here Peter Marshall.
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