This is the 28th station I've visited on the Metropolitan Line. Croxley is on the Watford branch of the line. The station was opened in November 1925 as Croxley Green on the Metropolitan Railway's extension to Watford with lines connecting both Rickmansworth and Moor Park. However, this led to confusion as there was another station called Croxley Green which had been opened in 1912 by the
London and North Western Railway, so it was renamed Croxley in 1949.
It has two platforms, one quarter of which is covered by glass roofed canopies. On the open sections of the platforms the original cast iron lamp posts are still in use.
There is a car park and builders yard which is sited on what was a goods yard next to the station. Goods traffic, which was mainly coal, ceased in 1966.
I needed to exit the station via the ticket office up these stairs. Confusing signs on the stairs. Coming up on the right hand side is an arrow going up and then half way up there is a no entry sign.
The building was designed by the Metropolitan Railway architect W C Clark. With its deeply pitched roof and dormer windows, it looks more like a large house than a station.
'The Kitchen' provided me with a delicious sandwich with prompt and friendly service. So once fortified I set off to see what I could find.
Close to the cafe was a pathway leading down to the Grand Union Canal. The canal is the longest in the UK at 137 miles with 158 locks. The Grand Union Canal links London to Birmingham.
I walked to the left first of all, admiring some of the narrow boats moored alongside the tow path. On the other side of the canal there was what looked like a new housing estate.
An inquisitive family of swans came over to see if I had any food for them.
This took me to one of the many locks on the canal. The lock is still in use but did look as though it needed a bit of care and attention.
It was so pleasant walking by the canal that I walked much further than I intended.
The picturesque lock keeper's cottage.
There were numerous butterflies close to the path. This is a red admiral.
It was quite rural in parts. Not all the land had been swallowed up by housing developments.
The North curve
I have to thank Geoff Marshall, a popular youtuber who has visited every railway station in the country, for this information. I spotted the railway lines curving round but didn't know where they would be going. Marshall's publication of these two maps was very helpful in explaining the curve.
According to Geoff this section of the Metropolitan Line is used only a couple of times a day in the early morning to take passengers directly from Rickmansworth to Watford without having to go to Moor Park to change trains.
The path led me to Croxley Green where All Saints' Church is one of the main features. The church was built in 1872 to accommodate the increase in the population. The industrial revolution brought an increase of jobs to the area when Dickenson extended his paper mill business. The Grand Union Canal meant it was easier to transport goods to and from London. New housing was needed to accommodate the workers.
In November 1919, the villagers raised money to purchase an oak tree and it was planted on the Green. Granite blocks from Dickinson's Mill were placed in front of the tree and engraved with the names of those who died in the First World War. Railings were put up around the war memorial to protect it from animals grazing on The Green. Names of those villagers who died in the Second World War and the Korean War have also been added. More than 400 Croxley men served in the First World War and at least 100 were killed.
In a tradition that dates back to 1897 trees are planted to commemorate important Royal events. The first was an oak tree planted to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Following this thirteen trees have been planted. The most recent being a new oak to mark the coronation of King Charles III. I believe this one in the photo was planted in 1935 to mark the silver jubilee of George V
I walked down New Road passed a number of 19th C cottages.
In 1868 this small methodist church was built following the increase in the number of worshippers and the limited space in the private house in this road where the services were originally held.
It had been a long day as I had visited two stations which couldn't have been more different. The exclusive housing development that was Moor Park and the much more interesting Croxley with its beautiful Grand Union Canal and The Green. I wonder what I will find on my next visit to an Underground station.
What an amazing visit to a much more interesting place on the same day. Lovely old buildings, a canal and narrowboats and so much more. Lockkeeper's houses are usually such nice looking buildings, but this one is exceptional. As I understand, your PM will cut the Canal Trust's funding in the next budget, so don't expect an improvement in canal maintenance any time soon.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a very nice trip around the station and canal with lots of greenery,locks and boats.
ReplyDeleteYes you're right the station does look more like a house. Canals are new to me, we don't have them here, more like rivers, streams or lakes and hardly any houseboats.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting visit.
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs and information ... many thanks.
All the best Jan
Doesn't even look like what I would expect a suburb of London to look like.
ReplyDeleteGoodness me, I have never heard of Croxley! I must have passed through it and not looked. Much more interesting than Moor Park, and with a cafe close at hand! Love the fireplace in the women's room. The 'curve' to easy the journey to Watford is good. As is the canal and Butterfly. Amazed that is waited for you. Excellent war memorial, most people do not realise there was a Korean War! A very good place to find. I wonder, would a better camera be useful? You take some good pictures, would a wee telephot help?
ReplyDeleteMuch more interesting than your last stop!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving this stop so much. Just the name "Croxley" sounds like something out of an Agatha Raisin mystery, or maybe an even further back Agatha Christie (I know I'm Anglophole totally geeking out here) but really it seems like a perfect English village. *And* I am a huge fan of narrow boats and canals. I really hope you can connect with a boat tour one of these times; I can't wait to read your post on that!
ReplyDeleteSo much history on this post! Love boats and locks, so the section on the Grand Union Canal was fascinating.
ReplyDelete