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B/W print; Introductory panel, 'Building the First Charing Cross', accompanying the woodcut murals by artist David Gentleman, on the walls of the Northern line platforms at Charing Cross Underground station, by H J Hare and Son

Image 1 of B/W print; Introductory panel, 'Building the First Charing Cross', accompanying the woodcut murals by artist David Gentleman, on the walls of the Northern line platforms at Charing Cross Underground station, by H J Hare and Son
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Main details

Main details for this item.
Reference number
1998/20773
Description
Introductory panel, 'Building the First Charing Cross', accompanying the woodcut murals by artist David Gentleman, on the walls of the Northern line platforms at Charing Cross Underground station. The murals depict the construction of the original Charing Cross 1291 - 1294, built by Edward I in memory of his wife, Queen Eleanor of Castile.
Photographer
Dates
1979
Collection
Object type
  • B/w print
Photograph number
55832-2
Location
Topics
Completeness
70%

  • Physical description

    Dimensions
    AttributeValue
    Descriptive size
    8x6ins
    Item content
    AttributeValue
    Text
    On mural: Building the first Charing Cross. The original Charing Cross was built in 1291-1294 by Edward I in memory of his wife, Queen Eleanor of Castile. It was the most splendid of the twelve Eleanor Crosses erected to mark the successive places where her body rested on its way from Lincoln to Westminster Abbey, and it stood near here until it was destroyed in 1647. Richard of Crundale and Roger of Crundale were the master masons. The stone came from Corfe in Dorset and Caen in Normandy; Richard of Corfe and John of Corfe cut the English stone. Alexander of Abingdon and William of Ireland carved the statues of Queen Eleanor which stood halfway up the Cross, and Ralph of Chichester carved some of the decoration. Many others whose names are forgotten took part in the work: quarrymen, rough-hewers, masons, mortarers, layers, setters, carpenters, thatchers, scaffolders, labourers, falcon or crane-men, apprentices, hodmen, drivers, horsemen and boatmen. These pictures of them are by David Gentleman.
    Design
    AttributeValue
    Shot
    Close-up

  • People involved

    RolePerson(s) involved
    Photographer
    H J Hare & Son, 1979

  • Associated companies, people and places

    Places
    Location
    Charing Cross Underground station, Westminster WC2