Coade Stone Caryatids
the maidens of a lost recipe
Greek-style stone maidens guarding a Bloomsbury church, made from a mysterious artificial stone whose recipe was lost.
Free to visit · Euston · Euston · NW1 2BA
Opening: Exterior viewable any time
Flanking the grand St Pancras New Church on the Euston Road stand rows of classical maidens, caryatids, modelled on those of the ancient Acropolis in Athens. They are made from Coade stone, a remarkably durable artificial stone perfected by the businesswoman Eleanor Coade in the 1700s, whose exact recipe was lost after her death and only recently reconstructed.
There is a charming flaw, the figures arrived too tall for their plinths, so a section had to be cut out of their middles, leaving them looking slightly squashed. It is free to admire, a fine slice of Greek revival drama and a tribute to one of Georgian London's most successful businesswomen.
Getting there: At St Pancras New Church on Euston Road, a couple of minutes from Euston station.
Best time to go: Daytime, on a walk along the Euston Road.
Insider tip: Look at the caryatids closely and you will see they look a little short-waisted, the result of being trimmed to fit. Coade stone weathers beautifully, which is why these 200-year-old figures still look crisp.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide