Michael Faraday Memorial

The Michael Faraday Memorial is a box-shaped stainless steel structure standing directly in front of Elephant and Castle station, serving as an electrical substation for the Northern and Bakerloo underground lines. Its facade features lighting that glows after dark, giving the functional building a distinctive visual presence.

The memorial was erected in 1961 near Faraday's birthplace in Newington Butts to honor the physicist who transformed our understanding of electricity and magnetism. Its construction marked a modern way of recognizing scientific achievement in the urban landscape.

The structure displays modern design through its clean geometric form in stainless steel, departing from conventional memorial styles. Walking past it, you notice how the industrial aesthetic connects the scientist's legacy to the contemporary urban landscape.

The structure sits directly outside Elephant and Castle station, making it simple to find and visit while exploring the area. The lighting is best seen after dark, so an evening visit reveals the full visual effect.

The structure serves as a working electrical facility powering the underground trains, not merely as a symbolic memorial. This dual purpose is unusual and makes it something beyond a traditional monument.

Location: London Borough of Southwark

Inception: 1961

Architects: Rodney Gordon

Made from material: stainless steel

Operator: London Underground

GPS coordinates: 51.49500,-0.10056

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:45