This is the 11th station I have visited on the Central Line. The station was opened in 1903 as part of the Woodford to Ilford loop.
Unusual to see the roundel embedded in concrete forming the base of the light
Looking closely at the ironwork brackets you can see the letters GER. The Great Eastern Railway was merged with other railway companies in 1923 to become the London and North Eastern Railway. Plans were made to transfer the station and others on this loop line to the Eastern extension of the Central Line. Work began in 1938 but was suspended until 1946 due to the outbreak of WW2. It opened as part of the Central line in November 1948.
The station ticket office was rebuilt after the war following its destruction by a 'Doodlebug' in July 1944. The original building was similar to Chigwell station (See previous post).
I crossed over from the station and peered over the bridge to see the tunnel linking Chigwell with Grange Hill. A short tunnel but then it is only a short distance to the previous station.
Turning right along Manor Road I saw this sign for Chigwell Cemetery. It was a long lane with a new housing development on my left but looking through the trees on my right I was surprised to see open fields.
A five minute walk along the lane brought me to the cemetery which is completely surrounded by open countryside, a reminder that this Underground line has not yet taken me fully into suburbia.
I walked back onto Manor Road and turned left away from the station. I was surprised by the view. It wasn't a clear day, in fact it was overcast and drizzly but I could still make out the skyscrapers in the City of London some 12 miles away.
On the other side of the road is the United Reform Church built in 1804 and the oldest church in this area.
I walked along Manor road as far as the recreational ground and was going to walk through the wooded area at the back but it was far too muddy. Another day perhaps.
Walking back towards the station I noticed a footpath running alongside the United Reform Church.
The footpath was part of the London loop which I mentioned in my previous post. I decided to follow it as it was going in the right direction hopefully. At least it wasn't quite as muddy as the path at the back of the recreational ground!
One or two stiles to negotiate. I was now regretting not wearing my hiking boots. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.
Through the bushes I heard the sound of gushing water. At first I thought it was some kind of fancy swimming pool.
It turned out to be the Chigwell Water treatment works.
Before I got completely lost I decided to leave the footpath and find my way back to the road. On the way I found these old cottages. This one was named Miller's Cottage
Old workers weatherboarded cottages
This is a listed building, built around 1800 but try as I might I couldn't find out any more information about its previous life.
The lodge
This was Vicarage Lane I was walking along which turned out to be a long winding lane with fields on either side and the occasional house.
Newer housing developments were more frequent at the beginning and end of the lane. I walked further than anticipated with the lane bringing me out at the High Road in Chigwell.
At least I knew where I was and took a circular route back to Grange Hill via Hainault Road and then on to Manor Road once more.
Passed St Winifred's church and then climbed the hill next to it.
What a pity the day was not clearer as I gazed down on the whole of London before me (impossible to see from the photos). Of course it is at this point that the name of the station makes sense!
It was just a short walk back to the station. Passed a small row of shops with its beauty shops, hairdressers and upmarket delicatessen.
Looking closely at the ironwork brackets you can see the letters GER. The Great Eastern Railway was merged with other railway companies in 1923 to become the London and North Eastern Railway. Plans were made to transfer the station and others on this loop line to the Eastern extension of the Central Line. Work began in 1938 but was suspended until 1946 due to the outbreak of WW2. It opened as part of the Central line in November 1948.
