Bushey Heath tube station

Last updated

Bushey Heath
Hertfordshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bushey Heath
Location of Bushey Heath in Hertfordshire
Location Bushey Heath
Grid reference TQ164950
OwnerNever Opened
Number of platforms4 (planned but never built)
Railway companies
Original company London Underground
Other information
Coordinates 51°38′30″N0°19′09″W / 51.64176°N 0.31924°W / 51.64176; -0.31924
Underground sign at Westminster.jpg London transportportal

Bushey Heath was a proposed, but unbuilt, London Underground station in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire, England. The planned location of the station was at the junction of the A41 and A411 roads.

Contents

History

Planning and construction

Planned route of the Bushey Heath extension superimposed on a 1934 map showing the rural nature of the area Bushey Heath Extension superimposed on 1934 OS Map.jpg
Planned route of the Bushey Heath extension superimposed on a 1934 map showing the rural nature of the area

The station was the last of three planned by London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) in 1935 for an extension of the Northern line from Edgware. [1] It would have served as the new terminus of the line. There was debate about the name for the station, with West Elstree, Caldecote Hill, South Aldenham, Aldenham, Bushey Heath and Aldenham and Bushey and Aldenham being proposed. [2] [n 1] The previous station on the route would have been Elstree South to the east.

The extension was part of the Northern Heights project which was intended to electrify a number of steam-operated London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) branch lines and to incorporate them into the Northern line. Much of the land for the extension came from the purchase in 1922 by the LPTB's precursor the Underground Electric Railways Company of London of the unbuilt Watford and Edgware Railway (W&ER). The W&ER had planned an extension of the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway to Watford Junction via Bushey, but it had never raised the capital required and its powers to construct a line had expired in 1911. [3] The specific route to Bushey Heath was approved by parliament in October 1937. [4] The LPTB's principal purpose for the extension was to stimulate the development of new residential areas to increase passenger numbers. [5] A secondary purpose was to provide a location suitable for a large new depot that was required to accommodate and maintain the new fleet of 1938 Stock trains to be used across the existing Northern line and the lines taken over from the LNER. [1] [6] [n 2] [n 3] The depot was to be constructed to the south of the running tracks between Bushey Heath and Elstree South with access from each end.

Bushey Heath station was to be located on the east side of the roundabout junction of Watford By-pass (A41) and Elstree Road (A411). The station would have had three tracks with two double-sided platforms. [10] The arrangement placed the station entrance directly next to the roundabout preventing any later extension. The station was to be provided with a large bus station and car park. [11] The LPTB planned to purchase the land on all four sides of the junction and proposed an extensive commercial development around the roundabout including a cinema, roadhouse and around 40 shops. [12] As with Elstree South, the architect appointed to design the station was Charles Holden. [13]

How Bushey Heath station may have looked on the London Underground Map if the Northern line extension from Edgware to Bushey Heath and Mill Hill East had been built Bushey Heath Extension Mockup.svg
How Bushey Heath station may have looked on the London Underground Map if the Northern line extension from Edgware to Bushey Heath and Mill Hill East had been built

Construction work on the Northern Heights project began in the late 1930s but was suspended by the outbreak of the Second World War. Most of the work undertaken to that date had been carried out on the existing LNER branch tracks but work between Edgware and Bushey Heath had started in June 1939. The route of the line had been cleared and laid out and some earthworks and tunnelling carried out between Edgware and Elstree South. [14]

Following the outbreak of war in Europe, work on the extension was suspended in September 1939 and was formally terminated in December of the same year as wartime funding restrictions would prevent completion. [15] Construction of Bushey Heath station had not started when the Second World War began. During the war years, the LPTB-owned land was used for farming vegetables for staff canteens. [16]

Work on designs for the station continued during the war to make changes required to account for Ministry of Transport plans to modify the roundabout to include an underpass. This moved the station from the east side of the roundabout to the north side with the lines running under Elstree Road. The revised arrangement would have allowed a continuation of the line beyond Bushey Heath. [17]

Cancellation

The sites of all three new stations were in semi-rural locations and, as had happened elsewhere, it was intended that the opening of the new section of Underground line would stimulate the construction of new residential estates that the stations would then serve. After the war, however, new legislation was introduced with the intention of limiting the continuing expansion of urban areas into the surrounding countryside. This legislation created the Metropolitan Green Belt around London and the area designated included the area covered by the new Northern line extension. Without the possibility of constructing the new housing estates, the new line had no purpose and the plans for the extension were cancelled in 1950. [18]

During the war, the depot buildings were used for the construction of Halifax bombers and the land owned by London Underground at Bushey was used for farming. After the abandonment of the extension plans, the depot buildings became Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works.

As a result of the breakup of London Transport Buses and the devolving of maintenance functions to the depots of individual bus companies, the overhaul works ceased operation in 1986. The premises stood derelict until 1997 when it was demolished and replaced with the Centennial Business Park.

Footage of the overhaul works in operation can be seen in the opening scenes of the 1963 film Summer Holiday starring Cliff Richard.

Notes and references

Notes

  1. A protracted series of discussions within the LPTB and with other interested parties took place during 1937 and 1938. The name used during much of planning stages was "Aldenham", linked to the nearby village (although Aldenham is further away from the proposed station site than both Elstree and Bushey Heath). The final choice of Bushey Heath was made in January 1938. [2]
  2. The Northern line's depot at Golders Green and the Northern City line's depot at Drayton Park were poorly arranged and unsuitable for the accommodation and maintenance of the new trains. [7] The LPTB considered constructing a new depot alongside the LNER's line between Finchley Central and Edgware, but could not negotiate a deal with the local authority for a suitable site in time to enable the depot to be built before the new rolling stock was to be delivered. [8]
  3. The arrangement of the depot at Aldenham located between Elstree South and Bushey Heath was intended to be similar to that between Oakwood and Cockfosters on the recently opened Piccadilly line extension. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern line</span> London Underground line

The Northern line is a London Underground line that runs from North London to South London. It is printed in black on the Tube map. The Northern line is unique on the Underground network in having two different routes through central London, two southern branches and two northern branches. Despite its name, it does not serve the northernmost stations on the Underground, though it does serve the southernmost station at Morden, the terminus of one of the two southern branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Finchley tube station</span> London Underground station

East Finchley is a London Underground station in East Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet, north London. The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, between Finchley Central and Highgate stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highgate tube station</span> London Underground and former railway station

Highgate is a London Underground station and former railway station in Archway Road, in the London Borough of Haringey in north London. The station takes its name from nearby Highgate Village. It is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, between East Finchley and Archway stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanmore tube station</span> London Underground station

Stanmore is a London Underground station in Stanmore, north-west London. It is the northern terminus of the Jubilee line and the next station towards south is Canons Park. The station is on the south side of London Road and is in Travelcard Zone 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushey</span> Town in Hertfordshire, England

Bushey is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England. It had a population of 25,328 in the 2011 census, rising to 28,416 in the 2021 census, an increase of 12.19%. This makes Bushey the second most populated town in Hertsmere. Bushey Heath is a large neighbourhood south east of Bushey on the boundary with the London Borough of Harrow reaching elevations of 165 metres (541 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgware tube station</span> London Underground station

Edgware is a London Underground station in Edgware, in the London Borough of Barnet, in North London. The station is the northern terminus of the Edgware branch of the Northern line and the next station towards south is Burnt Oak. It is in Travelcard Zone 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mill Hill East tube station</span> London Underground station

Mill Hill East is a London Underground station in Mill Hill in the London Borough of Barnet, north London. The station is the terminus and only station of a single-track branch of the Northern line from Finchley Central station and is in Travelcard Zone 4. It is the least used station on the Northern line with 1.41 million passengers in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finchley Central tube station</span> London Underground station

Finchley Central is a London Underground station in the Church End area of Finchley, north London. The station is located on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, between West Finchley and East Finchley stations; it is the junction for the short branch to Mill Hill East. The station is around 7 miles north-northwest of Charing Cross and is in Travelcard Zone 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgware, Highgate and London Railway</span> Former railway in North London

The Edgware, Highgate and London Railway was a railway in North London, England. The railway was a precursor of parts of London Underground's Northern line and was, in the 1930s, the core of an ambitious expansion plan for that line which was thwarted by the Second World War. Parts of the line were closed in the 1950s and have since been removed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muswell Hill railway station</span> Former railway station in England

Muswell Hill railway station was in Muswell Hill in North London, just north of the junction of Muswell Hill and Muswell Hill Place. Nothing remains of the station and Muswell Hill Primary School now occupies its former site. In the 1930s, plans were made to electrify the line and transfer the mainline service to London Underground's Northern line, but these were abandoned after the Second World War. The station closed for passengers in 1954 and goods in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cranley Gardens railway station</span> Former railway station in London

Cranley Gardens railway station was a station in the Muswell Hill area of north London. It was located between Highgate and Muswell Hill stations, at the junction of Muswell Hill Road and Cranley Gardens. Nothing remains of the station today and its site is now occupied by housing and a school. In the 1930s, plans were made to electrify the line and transfer the mainline service to London Underground's Northern line, but these were abandoned after the Second World War. The station closed for passengers in 1954 and for goods in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mill Hill (The Hale) railway station</span> Former railway station in England

Mill Hill (The Hale) was a station in Mill Hill in north London, on the now-removed railway between Mill Hill East station and Edgware railway station. It was located near the junction of Bunns Lane and Lyndhurst Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgware railway station</span> Former railway station in England

Edgware was a London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) station located on Station Road in Edgware, north London. It was opened in 1867 and was in use as a passenger station until 1939, then as a goods yard until 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brockley Hill tube station</span> Cancelled London Underground station

Brockley Hill was a proposed London Underground station that was going to be built at Brockley Hill in north London as part of the 1935-1940 New Works Programme for the London Passenger Transport Board. This station would have been the first of three to be built as part of a 1930s extension project to extend the Northern Line to Bushey Heath. The next stops being Elstree South and Bushey Heath, both would have been near the Aldenham Works, London Transport's main bus overhaul depot.

Elstree South was a proposed London Underground station in Elstree, Hertfordshire. It was designed by Charles Holden. The planned location of the station was adjacent to the A5183, north of the junction with the A41 and where junction 4 of the M1 motorway was subsequently built.

The New Works Programme of 1935–1940 was the major investment programme delivered by the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB), commonly known as London Transport, which had been created in 1933 to coordinate underground train, tram, trolleybus and bus services in the capital and the surrounding areas. The programme was to develop many aspects of the public transport services run by the LPTB and the suburban rail services of the Great Western Railway (GWR) and London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). The investment was largely backed by government assistance as well as by the issuing of financial bonds and was estimated to cost £42,286,000 in 1936.

The Watford and Edgware Railway (W&ER) was a company established in the 1860s in the United Kingdom to build a railway between Edgware in North London and Watford, Hertfordshire, via Bushey. Its planned 6.25-mile (10.06 km) route would have extended the railway line which forms part of the present-day Northern line on the London Underground network. Nothing substantial was constructed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A4008 road</span> Road in England

The A4008 is a local road in south east England.

The transport system now known as the London Underground began in 1863 with the Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground railway. Over the next forty years, the early sub-surface lines reached out from the urban centre of the capital into the surrounding rural margins, leading to the development of new commuter suburbs. At the turn of the nineteenth century, new technology—including electric locomotives and improvements to the tunnelling shield—enabled new companies to construct a series of "tube" lines deeper underground. Initially rivals, the tube railway companies began to co-operate in advertising and through shared branding, eventually consolidating under the single ownership of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL), with lines stretching across London.

References

  1. 1 2 Horne 2009, p. 42.
  2. 1 2 Beard 2002, pp. 60–64.
  3. Beard 2002, p. 14.
  4. Beard 2002, p. 86.
  5. Beard 2002, pp. 56–57.
  6. Beard 2002, p. 18.
  7. Beard 2002, p. 28.
  8. Beard 2002, pp. 27–28.
  9. Beard 2002, p. 53.
  10. Beard 2002, p. 34.
  11. Beard 2002, p. 67.
  12. Beard 2002, pp. 32–33 & 67.
  13. Beard 2002, p. 81.
  14. Beard 2002, p. 90.
  15. Beard 2002, pp. 92 & 129.
  16. Horne 2009, p. 51.
  17. Horne 2009, p. 97.
  18. Beard 2002, p. 126.

Bibliography

  • Beard, Tony (2002). By Tube Beyond Edgware. Capital Transport. ISBN   978-1-85414-246-7.
  • Horne, Mike (2009) [1990]. The Northern Line, An Illustrated History (3rd ed.). Capital Transport. ISBN   978-1-85414-326-6.
Abandoned Northern Heights Extension
Preceding station Underground no-text.svg London Underground Following station
Terminus Northern line
Elstree South
towards Morden or Kennington