Poor maidens

Having found Old St Pancras Church yesterday, I decided to take a closer look at (New) St Pancras Church on Euston Road, a place I've passed many times, without really taking much notice. And, when you do take notice, you find a very strange building indeed. The Old Church is a small, pretty, but unassuming, building, surrounded by a peaceful garden, this could not be more different. A huge, towering building, modelled on the Acropolis, sited right next to the busy, noisy, unlovely Euston Road.

But the most striking thing about it is the group of caryatids that prop up the porch on two sides of the building. Although lacking the lustre they once had because of the traffic hurtling past, they are still impressive. They do look a little strange though and this is why . . .

. . . They were sculpted by Charles Rossi at the time of the building of the church in 1819, although it took him three years to perfect them. Then disaster - when they arrived at the Church they were found to be too tall. Watched by a crowd of onlookers, Rossi set to and cut out their midriffs. He was able to do this, as they had been built in sections of Coade stone, an artificial material and their draped gowns help to cover up the missing bit. They just look a bit stunted!

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Yesterday we had a delightful evening, with great food, in the company of both daughters and partners. Today - more Rugby for three of them, which is apparently getting quite exciting. As for me, I have never before had a day in London when I've done so little and yet enjoyed so much. I did join a tour of the British Library, which was fascinating. A lovely sunny day, with lots of opportunity to wander, or sit and read or watch the world go by.