What did John Betjeman blue plaque do at Melcombe Place?

The Story

Standing outside Marylebone Station at Melcombe Place, you're at the heart of one of Sir John Betjeman's greatest passions and victories. As Britain's most famous railway enthusiast-poet, Betjeman fought tirelessly in the 1960s to save this magnificent Victorian station and the Great Western Hotel from demolition, successfully preserving both when many of London's great railway terminals were being modernized or destroyed. His love affair with Marylebone ran deep - he celebrated its Gothic splendor in both poetry and prose, particularly in his 1972 documentary "Metro-land," which began its journey from these very platforms into the suburbs he so cherished. The dedication of this plaque by Chiltern Railways on his centenary was a fitting tribute to the man who not only saved the station but helped generations of Londoners see the romance and beauty in their everyday railway journeys.