On 11 August 2010 Sir William McAlpine, Chairman of the Railway Heritage Trust, unveiled a Railway Heritage Trust plaque to commemorate the opening of the original St Pancras station in 1868.  The principal guest was the Mayor of the City of Derby, Councillor Amar Nath.

 

The plaque records the fact that the magnificent building that is St Pancras International was originally built by the Midland Railway Company of Derby.  At that time, in 1868, it was the only London Terminus to have been built by a provincial railway company with the Midland Directors, sitting in Derby, making the decision to invest what were then huge sums into the station, not only in providing this terminus, but also – a few years later - the equally iconic and magnificent Midland Grand Hotel.

 

St Pancras International has always recognised the importance of its heritage, with it being central to the £800 million restoration that took place. Designed and built by the visionary engineer William Henry Barlow in 1868 the Barlow shed was considered a true engineering wonder and was the largest single-span enclosed space in the world. Today, St Pancras International has re-defined the railway station for the 21st century by complimenting the stunning Victorian architecture with the super modernity of the UK’s first ever High Speed Rail link.