A Quick Tour of the Union Bar - version 2

As you enter the quad, take a moment to look at the Imperial College coat of arms tucked into the pediment high up above the entrance. And below that, immediately above the entrance, look at the keystone to the archway. It is the head of At... Read more

As you look towards the main entrance of the Union Building, look at the 'Baker' clock and, to the right and left of it, the decorative 'diapering' a remnant from the Union building's past when, as a two storey building, it had many neo-Tud... Read more

Don't dilly-dally here. Just cast a glance at the sign above the door and take a quick look at the door itself as you pass through. The first framed print we'll look at is on your left as you face the Bar.....

Plans of Union Building This photograph hangs to left of alcove and is entitled “Sketch for Proposed Students Union in connection with the Imperial College of Science”. Handwritten annotation says “Students’ Union. Plan and elevatio... Read more

Botany: Under construction 1912-1914 This photograph hangs on the left wall of the alcove and shows the nearly completed Botany Building with views of the Memorial to the Great Exhibition and views of the Royal College of Music. This part o... Read more

Beit:1930s tennis courts and a fine growth of ivy on the Union frontage This photograph hangs on the back wall of the alcove and shows a very thickly ivy-clad Union Building with only two storeys, as it was prior to the additional storeys b... Read more

Long view of the newly built Beit Building frontage 1931 This photograph hangs on the right had wall of the alcove and shows Prince Consort Road with only three parked cars This final piece of the quadrangle was completed after the death of... Read more

Students Gathering on Sir Roderic Hill Memorial Wall This photograph also hangs on the back wall of the alcove and reminds us of something that is widely forgotten: that after adding two floors to the Union Building, the Beit Quadrangle was... Read more

Front of Union Building in the mid-70s Here we are at the final photograph, hanging next to the dart board. The scene predates the major works that were carried out over the summer and (unintentionally) into the autumn term of 1979. Altho... Read more

Sadly, not the original which was stolen. The 3HP as its name is customarily abbreviated, was never recovered from the RCSA’s ‘Goodbye to RCS’ Annual Dinner which mourned the Royal College of Science being split into faculties of Life... Read more

All across the world, the hammer and pick motif is associated with mining. It is widely seen in the Bar and not just in the RSM logo; it also features in the logos of several other mining institutions which are on display in various places... Read more

Monochrome ‘Agricola’ Stein This porcelain stein comes from Hungary as is clear from the makers mark on the underside where it is marked “ALFÖLDI PORCELAN HUNGARY”. The inscription “Jo szerencset!”, meaning “good luck!” is ... Read more

For many years the Imperial College shield was just surrounded by the shields of the three original Constituent Colleges, RCS, RSM and C&G. After the acquisition of a medical school in 1988 a fourth shield, featuring the fleur-de-lys of... Read more

High up on the right hand side of the bar you see the the blue figure of the Virgin Mary together with and the infant Jesus. The Latin inscription surrounding the figure of Mary is “VIRGINIS MARIAE NOSOCOMIUM BEATAE” which pretty much t... Read more