A Lil Look Around Aldwych Station
TFL currently have an exhibition on about the current and forth coming upgrades to various Tube lines. They just happened to host it in a station that's been closed since 1994 that geeks like me would love to have a look inside. What a clever ploy. The station in question is Aldwych (formerly Strand before Charing Cross was renamed Strand for a while, all very confusing). Since closing it has been used for filming, training and private hires. The exhibit takes up the majority of the ticket hall; the platform level was off limits. The info on display can be seen online anytime, I was there to take a poke around.
The Surrey Street entrance and exit.
Interior of the original 1907 lift, the only one left on the network.
Lift exterior.
Booking hall found behind some temporary hoardings.
Phone booths, also behind the hoardings.
There's a few more photos to see over at Flickr.
Going For a Walk Under the Thames
Well today was a big day - I got to walk through the Thames Tunnel. It's the first tunnel ever to be constructed under water and was done so by Marc Brunel and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel. You may of heard of him.
After the mess that was trying to get tickets over the phone and the website, I got a ticket for this afternoon. But not before getting the wrong ticket type and being charged three times.
There's been lots written about these tours by other Londony types here, here and here. So rather than re-hashing what they have already said I'll just link to my photo set over on Flickr.
Humble Houses
I went to an interesting talk at the Bishopsgate Institute last week called 'Silk-weavers Tenement Housing in Georgian East London'. Bit of a mouthful, but right on the money as far as my interests go. I love the East End and especially the area around Spitalfields / Bethnal Green ('oh really?' - everyone) and its Georgian history and buildings.
The Georgian houses that were saved by the Spitalfields Trust in the 1970s were more of the high end houses owned by the master silk weavers in the 18th century. The cottage houses built for the weavers and labourers were built very cheaply and so there aren't many left.
The photo above shows a few that are. This is Red Church Street at the north end of Brick Lane. There are three weavers houses left, one of which (at least for me) seems to have retained its original features better. That is number 113, the second building from the left (with the Estate Agents sign). Since I first saw this building on Dan Cruickshank's program about the Sptialfields area I've really liked it, despite it being decrepdid and possibly even more so because of its state.
At the talk I found out that it has been recently listed so it won't be demolished. However, I'm not sure what exactly is going to happen to it. Will it remain as is or will someone try to restore it? If it was to be restored it would look a bit out of place with its neighbours. I think as long as it's not knocked down I'd be happy but I'm still curious as to what its fate will be.
Lordy Lordy, Look Who is er 136
That headline will work so much better in four years time, but never-mind. One of my favourite London rail stations, Liverpool Street, was opened 136 years ago today. As I already made mention of King's Cross birthday last year it's only fair I do the same for Liverpool Street as I use both to travel to the capital.
The station that opened in 1874 was very different to the one that serves North East London and East Anglia now. Originally it was laid out in an L shape, with a long entrance way just off Liverpool Street, running along what what is now (was it then?) Sun Street Passage.
The station in 1896. Source: Wikipedia
Nearly the same view on Google Street View. I don't have a photo that was quite the right angle.
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