Sunday, September 27, 2015

Epping


This is the first station travelling from East to West on the Central Line and so begins the start of my exploration of 'Above the Underground' on this line. Having completed the Bakerloo Line I am keen to see what the Central Line has to offer. The 46 mile Line travels from the Epping in the East through the centre of London to West Ruislip.






The approach to the station was through beautiful English countryside so I was already excited by the prospect of exploring a new town before stepping off the train and I wasn't disappointed.




Someone with green fingers takes care of this station as the flowers were stunning.




For such a small station I was surprised that it had toilet facilities,unknown at central London underground stations.



There are 49 stations on the Central Line so this is going to take me a couple of years to complete!













Just to the left of the station is the car park which is the largest of the London Underground car parks with spaces for about 600 cars.


Epping became part of the London Underground Central Line in September 1949, that left a single line track from Epping to Ongar as the last steam-worked section. The line was electrified in 1957 but in 1994 the service from Epping to Ongar was withdrawn and this section was sold. It is now privately owned and has become a heritage railway where you can  have a ride on a steam train. There is a regular bus service from Epping to  Ongar on these heritage buses.

The town of Epping is about a 10 min walk from the station.



At one end of the High Street is this gothic water tower was built in 1872, storing 30,000 gallons of water to provide water for an expanding town. In the mid 1980s, it was closed down as it was claimed that nesting pigeons were falling into the tank and contaminating the water. It now has a used car lot at its base and the top is used for mounting transmitters and receivers but nevertheless it still stands out as a building of architectural merit.















At the other end of the High Street is another tower, the clock tower of the District Council Offices.



In the middle of the High Street is the church of St John the Baptist. Although there has been a church on this site for hundreds of years, this one was built between 1889 and 1909.
















The High Street has a number of delightful cottages as well as individual shops, cafes and pubs.














This is the Quaker meeting house, just off the High Street. The first meeting house in Epping was built in 1705. The present one dates back to 1850.






This beautiful Regency building is the Police station.









Just a few minutes walk from the High Street is Epping Forest, an ancient forest stretching 19 km in length and no more than 4km in width. It is London's largest open space and was given the status of  a Royal forest by Henry II in the 12th C. This means that commoners can use the forest to gather wood and to graze livestock but only the monarch is allowed to hunt.


In 1878 the Epping Forest Act was passed which meant it ceased to be a Royal Forest and was placed in the care of the City of London Corporation. The act stipulated that the forest must remain unenclosed and cannot be built on and is a place of recreation for the people.
The upkeep of the forest is funded from the private funds of the Corporation and costs the taxpayer nothing.





Walking back to the station you get a glimpse of the countryside that surrounds Epping.





I enjoyed my visit to Epping and hope many more stations on the Central Line are as attractive as this one.


18 comments:

  1. Looking forward to this journey. I don't use the central line much and know nothing of the different places at either end. I grew up at the end of the metropolitan line, in Chesham. This post reminds me off it a little.

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  2. What and wonderful looking place to visit or live for that matter

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  3. This is going to be a fascinating journey. I'm sure I must have been to Epping - I certainly used to visit the forest quite often - but I don't remember the town and it looks delightful.

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  4. It is amazing that the countryside is connected to the underground lines. Epping looks like a pretty place to live close to London.

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  5. What a wonderful town. Two years huh. I am looking forward to it. I had no idea the Central line went so far out.

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  6. Hello, Epping looks like a lovely town. I enjoyed the walk and tour. Thanks for sharing your journey! Have a happy day and new week ahead!

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  7. Ah, Epping, one of my old haunts! You are in my old area where I spent my teenage years. Good old Dick Turpin country! I'm going to enjoy following you along this line as it will resurrect many happy memories xx

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  8. Will it really take you that long to explore all 49? Wow! You are dedicated.

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  9. Your post brings back to mind all the years I took students to London and other cities via the Tube. Gotta watch that step. Loved seeing all of your pictures. You took me a lovely tour of the area.

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  10. Your photos are wonderful ~ it is like a travelogue of Epping ~ delightful post ~ almost feel I was on the 'jaunt' with you ~ You certainly are ambitious!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  11. Great photos and such a beautiful place to visit. The forest is especially beautiful and the all the old buildings fascinating. There is a suburb named Epping in Sydney Australia. Those first settlers must have been really homesick!

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  12. Wonderful greenery along the way! This was good virtual walk along with you!
    Thanks!

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  13. I enjoyed exploring Epping with you. Looks like you have a goal for the next couple of years.

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  14. Thanks for showing Epping, which looks very attractive and very English.
    Next year I certainly want to go to the UK again. It's been a long time since I was in England.
    Have a great week!
    Wil,ABCW Team.

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  15. Another line to explore ! What you are doing is really very interesting, I have to read all your posts of the Bakerloo line ! Epping seams to be a nice little "village" ! Yes and I think so too traveling on this line will take you some time !

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  16. A friend of mine used to live in Epping - he was an accountant in the city and when he moved down south from Manchester he bought a house just 3 minutes walk from the station - I visited him several times - never went anywhere near London but explored the lovely countryside between there and Cambridge. After a number of years in the smoke he upped sticks and moved to Devon.

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  17. I used the Central Line some when I stayed in South Ealing but I never followed it through London to its northern end. Now I wish I had! London should pay you an advertising fee, Marie! I'm sure you entice many new visitors to the city.

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  18. You do set yourself huge challenges but I love them. I was interested in the map and noticed that Woodford is one of the stations that you will visit. I grew up in Woodford as a small child in the top flat of the building on a corner. The address was 2 Chigwell Road. I visited it way back in 1970 when I first returned to England after migrating in 1949 and it hadn't changed much then.

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