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Post by burkitt on Mar 24, 2021 20:55:55 GMT
Reading an Underground News article on the New Works programme, I came across a reference to several stations proposed at the same time, though apparently not part of the programme. They would apparently have been: - Deans Lane (between Mill Hill (The Hale) and Edgware)
- Finchley Manor (on North Circular Road, East Finchley – Finchley Central)
- Watford Way later Bunns Bridge then Copthall (Mill Hill East – Mill Hill (The Hale))
- Willenhall Park later Barnet Vale (Totteridge – High Barnet)
I can find no reference to these station anywhere other than another Underground News article - they aren't shown on the tube maps of the era that did show the Northern Heights extensions, nor can I find mention of them in Rails through the Clay, Northern Wastes, or By Tube Beyond Edgware. The need for extra stations surprises me, given the gaps between stations on those stretches of line currently operated by LU are hardly excessive for the outer suburbs. Does anyone know if any further details of these stations exist, such as why they were felt necessary, how far design work progressed, why they were cancelled etc? |
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Post by Chris L on Mar 24, 2021 21:18:29 GMT
I once had to go to a site used to transfer materials to engineer's trains at Edgware.
The entrance was from Deans Lane next to a bridge on what would have been the link to Mill Hill East.
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metman
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Post by metman on Mar 24, 2021 21:28:33 GMT
I’ve never heard about the stations between Mill Hill (The Hale) and Edgware. Bunns Lane was next to the existing Hale station so would have been a replacement station and Deans Lane is right next to the shunting neck at Edgware!
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Post by quex on Mar 24, 2021 22:08:33 GMT
There's a contemporary map showing the stations in the book "The First Tube" by Mike Horne and Bob Bayman (I'm not sure if also it's in the later edition of the same titled "The Northern Line") and a bit about them in the Underground News special from a few years back about the Northern line extensions. Unfortunately I have neither book to hand to give you any more details!
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Post by spsmiler on Mar 24, 2021 22:35:05 GMT
I once saw a summary of the special station - specific works of modern art that were planned for any fully rebuilt stations. Only East Finchley actually got its work of art (the Archer) and the only only other one that I can remember was going to be some sort of leaf design related to a nearby stream / river.I think this was going to be at Mill Hill The Hale.
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Post by burkitt on Mar 24, 2021 22:39:20 GMT
Thanks for mentioning the map in "The First Tube", Quex. I've checked by copy (of the later The Northern Line edition) and it does indeed show the locations of the extra stations. There's also a couple of sentences mentioning the proposed stations, but no further details. I was hoping plans might have been drawn as exist for the Bushey Heath extension stations, but it seems that's unlikely.
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Post by nig on Mar 24, 2021 23:23:26 GMT
There is a video on you tube called the unfinished Northern line that has loads of information
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Post by burkitt on Mar 25, 2021 0:06:16 GMT
I once saw a summary of the special station - specific works of modern art that were planned for any fully rebuilt stations. Only East Finchley actually got its work of art (the Archer) and the only only other one that I can remember was going to be some sort of leaf design related to a nearby stream / river.I think this was going to be at Mill Hill The Hale. Highgate was supposed to have a statue of Dick Whittington and his cat - he supposedly reached Highgate hill when fleeing a miserable life in London before hearing Bow bells calling him back to the city where he would go on to become Lord Mayor. In different iterations of the design, the statue would have sat atop a rotunda entrance on Archway Road, or atop a tall vent tower above the low level ticket hall. There are drawings of both in David Lawrence's Underground Architecture. I'd certainly be interested to know of any of the other planned works of art. |
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Post by oe on Mar 25, 2021 1:43:12 GMT
I once saw a summary of the special station - specific works of modern art that were planned for any fully rebuilt stations. Only East Finchley actually got its work of art (the Archer) and the only only other one that I can remember was going to be some sort of leaf design related to a nearby stream / river.I think this was going to be at Mill Hill The Hale. There was to be a life size Roman Centurion, a nod to the supposed nearby Sullonicae site, at Elstree South. |
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roythebus
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Post by roythebus on Mar 31, 2021 22:04:12 GMT
Wasn't Deans Lane the site of the original GNR/LNER Edgware Station? maps.nls.uk/view/103657502But then a further online map search reveals Deans Lane is the A5109 on the line of the GNR branch. In later years as part of the Northern Heights there was a connecting line between the Northern and GNR branches. I've recently seen a picture of an LNER steam hauled passenger train doing an excursion from Edgware LT station via Mill Hill to Southend (I think). |
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Post by Chris L on Apr 1, 2021 9:21:26 GMT
Wasn't Deans Lane the site of the original GNR/LNER Edgware Station? maps.nls.uk/view/103657502But then a further online map search reveals Deans Lane is the A5109 on the line of the GNR branch. In later years as part of the Northern Heights there was a connecting line between the Northern and GNR branches. I've recently seen a picture of an LNER steam hauled passenger train doing an excursion from Edgware LT station via Mill Hill to Southend (I think). The bridge that was over the track at Deans Lane is still there. |
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metman
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Post by metman on Apr 1, 2021 19:13:41 GMT
The old station was just behind the tower block and next to the bus station.
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Post by selbiehouse on Apr 1, 2021 21:27:43 GMT
Station Road in Edgware got its name from the Great Northern station rather than the Underground. Between the tower block and Edgware Broadway there is a mock Tudor pub called "The Railway" which must have been somewhere near the GN station.
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vincenture
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Post by vincenture on Apr 2, 2021 9:42:04 GMT
All these stations would have been feasible, especially between Finchley Central and East Finchley, but erm I guess we can only have Mill Hill Broadway as the future option :/ I mentioned in my "fantasical" proposal of a Hatch End to Dartford line of a potential take over of the Mill Hill branch which would have made this possible, but that's for another day. If new stations were to be built in these planned locations it would need some commercial areas to support. That article is credible because Mr Badsey-Ellis is a credible author, hence a tertiary source
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Post by burkitt on Apr 5, 2021 21:17:28 GMT
I once saw a summary of the special station - specific works of modern art that were planned for any fully rebuilt stations. Only East Finchley actually got its work of art (the Archer) and the only only other one that I can remember was going to be some sort of leaf design related to a nearby stream / river.I think this was going to be at Mill Hill The Hale.
Completed:
- East Finchley: Statue of archer with bow and arrow pointing towards London by Eric Aumonier signifying the swift and direct tube service to the centre of London (1939); nearby new electric substation featured the sculpture of a transformer by Joseph Armitage (1939) – the substation closed in 2000 (replaced anew) but the building is believed to survive out of use.
- St. Paul’s: Floor paving inlay depicting a dome, ball and cross symbolic representation of the nearby cathedral (1940).
- Uxbridge: Sculpture pair each depicting railway wheel and leaf springs by Joseph Armitage; three stained glass windows containing the coats of arms of Uxbridge Urban District Council, and the counties of Buckinghamshire and Middlesex by Ervin Bossányi (1938).
Uncompleted:
- Denham: Angler symbol for locally famed trout stream.
- Elstree: Sculpture of roman soldier recognising location of the village as a post on Roman Watling Street.
- Fairlop: Aeroplane symbol at proposed resited station serving new City of London airport
- High Barnet: Mural remembering a Wars of the Roses battle which took place nearby.
- Highgate: Symbol or weathervane-mounted silhouette of Dick Whittington and cat on roof of Archway Road new entrance building recalling the English folklore tale.
- Mill Hill East: Crest of Middlesex Regiment, based at the nearby Inglis Barracks.
- Mill Hill (The Hale): Windmill symbol remembering its name origins.
- Perivale: Pear symbol recognising valley of pears name origin.
- Redbridge: Glass screen panel of Britannia by Gertrude Hermes ex-Paris Exhibition 1937.
- South Ruislip: Bulrushes symbol (possibly also at Ruislip Gardens and/or West Ruislip) recalling each as places where rushes lined the River Pinn (“Rush Leap”).
- Wanstead: Carved and gilded mahogany St. George and the Dragon above-entrance signs by Joseph Armitage saluting both George Green and George Hotel nearby.
- Woodford: Heraldic river and tree symbol recognising the town as an ancient crossing place over the River Roding.
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Post by spsmiler on Apr 5, 2021 23:20:00 GMT
Thanks and wow, that list is far more extensive than I had previously known.
Gants Hill was not on the list but it got the distinctive 'Moscow Metro' arched waiting area between the tracks.
After the war Newbury Park ended up with the distinctive concrete bus shelter which won many awards. Its just a shame that the people who gave the awards have never waited for a bus there on a cold windy day! brrrrr Also, the special plaque recognising its award winning status is cracked and in need of some tlc (tender loving care) or remedial work.
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Post by jimbo on Apr 6, 2021 0:06:18 GMT
I once saw a summary of the special station - specific works of modern art that were planned for any fully rebuilt stations. Only East Finchley actually got its work of art (the Archer) and the only only other one that I can remember was going to be some sort of leaf design related to a nearby stream / river.I think this was going to be at Mill Hill The Hale. - Mill Hill East: Crest of Middlesex Regiment, based at the nearby Inglis Barracks.
Nearby Inglis Barracks was the reason to complete the branch that far during wartime. The reason we still have the branch today, and not the balance of scheme! |
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Post by humbug on Apr 6, 2021 9:21:54 GMT
Pretty sure my father did his National Service training there (before being sent to Korea), in, I guess, around 1954? Thread drift..I know.
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Post by quex on Apr 6, 2021 10:33:22 GMT
Perhaps worth mentioning that a station at Copthall did rear its head again in the guise of an extension of the Mill Hill East branch. It's been proposed a few times, most notably about 30 years ago, to serve the big stadium there.
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metman
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Post by metman on Apr 19, 2021 20:27:29 GMT
It’s interesting to consider if the line from Mill Hill East to Edgware had been retained (without the rest of the scheme) what sort of service could have been provided?
Totally agree that without the barracks Mill Hill East would have closed. Now there is huge development in the area one wonders if the opportunity was lost to retain the line.
I’m sure there would have been a form of interchange at Mill Hill (The Hale) with the Broadway station (although not that near!)
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Post by ducatisti on Apr 20, 2021 12:29:48 GMT
Apart from the suburban passenger traffic from Mill Hill etc, what would it have offered? In terms of direct trains, it wouldn't offer any new destinations. The interchange with the mainline would offer some opportunities - but, on current service patterns Broadway doesn't offer a lot - except Luton airport. After all, any central route would be easier to go via the northern downwards.
If the service pattern could be changed, then getting two airport links might be a winner - interesting balance North London is very affluent and likely to go on holiday a lot, but will any of that traffic go by rail (distinguishing from Heathrow-biassed business travel). This would only work if there was a very good interchange though - how far will people pull suitcases before going by car is easier.
If there was the money, an extension to Broadway would seem sensible, possibly with doubling back to Finchley. Although as a Barnettian, I would not want the inevitable drop-off on the service there.
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