Postcards of the Past
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London Railway Stations
King's Cross
As you can see, so far we only have
four postcards of King's Cross, and
of course we would love to have
more. If you would like to contribute
to this page, please contact us !
No date for this postcard of Platform 10 at King's Cross - looks like the 1930s.
As with most major stations, King's Cross began with just 2
platforms, one for arrivals and one for departures. These are
today's Platforms 1 and 8.
King's Cross was originally designed and built as the London Terminus of the Great Northern
Railway on the site of a former smallpox hospital. The station was constructed in 1851/52,
replacing a temporary station at Maiden Lane which had opened in 1850. The main part of the
station - today's platforms 1 to 8 - was opened on 14 October 1852. The total cost of
construction, including the purchase of the land, was about £190,000.
King's Cross was connected with the Metropolitan Railway in 1863 and a suburban station
opened in 1878. This latter was subsequently extended and then rebuilt. The present station
concourse opened in 1973.

In common with all the London Railway Termini, a hotel was essential, and the Great Northern
Hotel opened in May 1854.
According to legend, King's Cross is built on the site of Boudica's
final battle. Another legend suggests that her body is buried
under one of the platforms and there are passages under the
station which her ghost is supposed to haunt
King's Cross features in many books. I suppose the most well
known today are the "Harry Potter" books in which the Hogwarts
Express uses Platform 9 3/4 which is reached by passing
through a brick wall between platforms 9 and 10.
An early literary reference comes in John Buchan's novel "The
Thirty-nine Steps" in which the hero Richard Hannay, suspected
of murder, just manages to avoid capture by boarding a train for
Scotland at King's Cross
Everyone's favourite television rat, Roland, is said to live in the
sewers beneath King's Cross.
King's Cross is used by Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in
several of Conan Doyle's stories.
The area of King's Cross and the station itself are the setting for
the Ealing Comedy "The Ladykillers" (1955) which stars Alec
Guinness.
In 1934, a suitcase opened in the left luggage rooms was found
to contain a couple of human legs. These were later associated
with other body parts found at Charing Cross.
"Flying Scotsman" leaving Kings Cross for Edinburgh (Waverley).  The longest
non-stop run in the world - 392 1/4 miles in 8 1/4 hours".
No date for this one - probably 1930s when the streamlining of engines was at its
height.
The Great Northern Hotel.