As my father had his office King’s Cross, in 2 Keystone Crescent as had his mother, grandfather and great grandfather, I had been hearing the place name for five decades before I become curious to know who the king was. It had never been discussed.
Well, it was George IV. Doesn’t he deserve a statue? It set me off on researching his life, finding we shared an interest in music as displayed in this caracature, taken from a fabulous collection showing the derision in which he has held by many during his reign (see footnotes).
The key moments of his life I put a poster, now mounted in Keystone Crescent.
The Brighton Pavillion aka The Royal Pavillion is a gigantic architrctural fantasy, now one of Brighton’s treasures and tourist attractions (see Further Reading below). It only a 75m rail trip from St Pancras.
Behind the pictures of his life story is a version of the wall plaque celebrating his life that I designed to fill the historical gap.
The plaque is based on the his coronation coin which I got 3D scanned and scaled up. His life was divided into three sections , Prince of Wales, Prince Regent, ruling while his father George III bcame mentally ill and , lastly on the latter’s death, king. These three periods are shown as a clockwise progression round the plaque. The background colour is Wedgwood B;ue fashionable at the time., My first design included the three ostrich feathers assocated with a Prince of Wales but I was told to remove them by representatives of the then Prince of Wales, Charles , now King.
So far, the powers-that- be, Network Rail and ironically, English heritage, have not been conviced of the vaue of having it mounted on the brickwork of King’s Cross station. So it waits patiently and serving its purpose to a limited audience in Keystone Crescent N1 9DS.
And here’s a link to my fathers great grandfather.
The final letters of a Victorian builder of King’s Cross streets
After my father died we found a bundle of letters from the 1870s under the bed at his little London office. They were written to my grandfather by his grandfather Robert James Stuckey. With the help of designer Sue Smallwood they have been turned into a beautiful book.
The most famous street that Robert James Stuckey built Keystone Crescent is now featured in the opening scenes of the film A Boy Called Christmas which is viewable on Netflix and Sky. And in 2024 it will again be covered in snow for an ad that will jump into your living room to get you in a Christmas-happy mood ready to pop into your local… (secret high street brand).
The letter collection, in first edition, was reviewed in the neighbourhood press.
http://islingtontribune.com/article/keystone-copped
Now in its second edition, retailing at £12, it is stocked at Housmans 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX, who can also post it to you.
And if you’d like to see some of the book spreads, go to http://impress-publishing.com/my-dear-little-grandchildren.html
It is also stocked at the lunchtime restaurant The Yellow Bittern 20 Caledonian Rd,, open form 9 to 5 Mondays to Fridays. Its a unique cash-only restaurant so have your £12 ready. If you fancy sampling delicacies from the menu at the same time pretty essential to book a table on 020 3342 2162
Further reading
Andrew Whitehead 2018, Curious King’s Cross , Five Leaves Publications
http://www.curiouslondon.net http://www.fiveleavesbookshop.net
Michael Hunter and Robert Thorne 1990, Change at King’s Cross: from 1800 to the Present.
Kenneth Baker 2005, George IV a Life in Caracature, Thames and Hudsson
John Nash 1752-1835, Views of the Royal Pavillion, Gervase
Futher viewing
http://www.youtube.com/@untoldlndn then search for King’s Cross
-which lead me tothis link to a patron of the arts, Peter Tompkins, who runs a descreet music venue just under the Clock Tower. I organised a gig there in nov 2024 presenting the Paper Jam, a jazz duo consisiting of Christian Garrick ,violin and Dave Gordon piano. We have another one scheduled for tue 25 nov 2025. Tickets will be available on this site nearer the time.
To learn more about the story of the Clock Tower click this link . You may be invited to join facebook . If you don’t want to, click on the X top right and the video will play . You may have to click on the sound icon
Bob Stuckey 