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tarboat club

Posted: 05 Jun 2022

Taken: 11 Jun 2014

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london •
architecture •
terracotta •
cornhill •

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Cornhill Devil

Cornhill Devil
The terracotta frontage of 54-55 Cornhill, in London, includes three devilish characters looking down from on high.The building was built in 1893 to the design of Ernest Runtz.

Explanation can be found in David Brazil's book; Naked City, 150 Faces of Hidden London.

Don’t look up if ever you enter St Peter’s church on Cornhill, as you may be shocked by three ferocious statues, their faces contorted in fury. One of them is also spitting, another sticks its fingers up in rage. They’re known as the Cornhill Devils, and they protrude from the Victorian office block above the Cornhill Men’s Outfitters. But why such malice? They are an architect’s revenge, an act to spite the church. During the block’s construcvtion late last century [19th century], the architect pinched a foot or so of St Peter’s land, and this did not go unnoticed by the rector. This cleric kicked up a right stink and forced the building plans right back to the drawing board. So bitter was the thwarted architect that the rector’s face was given to the gargoyle nearest the street, while the three Devils continue to display their malevolence towards anyone entering St Peter’s.

Robert Swanson, A Buildings Fan, Gabi Lombardo, SV1XV have particularly liked this photo

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