Moor Park

This is the 27th station I have visited on the Metropolitan Line. The last couple of stations didn't inspire or surprise me in any way. They were just very pleasant suburban areas. I am determined not to leave out any stations so it was not with any great enthusiasm that I set out today to visit Moor Park. I had never heard of this station before today so assumed it would be similar to previous stations.
 

 The station has been open since 1910, originally as Sandy Lodge, changing to Moor Park and Sandy Lodge in 1923 and then to its current name in 1950. It was completely rebuilt in 1961, increasing the number of platforms to four. Two for the northbound trains(one for slow/semi-fast and one for fast services) and two for southbound trains into London British Rail and Network SouthEast trains stopped calling at Moor Park from 1993.

I looked everywhere for the Mark Wallinger labyrinth print and there was no one to ask, so I think I might have to return on a weekday to solve that mystery.

Another poster celebrating 100 years of the Underground Roundel.

The map outside the station gave me a good idea of the area. The station was surrounded by three golf courses.

In fact the station building is also a pedestrian subway to the Sandy Lodge Golf club. Moor Park is just outside the Greater London area and is in Hertfordshire. It was previously on the Great Central Rail which meant that passengers could travel much further field. You can see from the photo that the station is surrounded by woodland.

There was a small wooded roundabout in front of the station which led  me round to a row of shops. 

Not the usual selection of shops but more businesses. There was an accountant, dentist. estate office, Haute Couture (appointment only), Post Office, butcher and two restaurants ( neither open at lunchtime). No sign of any hairdressers, nail bars or cafes here.

Outside one of the shops was a defibrillator. These are popping up in lots of public places now.

I walked down a couple of roads which were lined with huge trees, massive detached houses with large gardens. There were very few pavements just grass verges. Before I wandered round aimlessly for a couple of hours I thought it wise to ask someone if they could point me in the direction of anywhere of interest. I finally found one gentleman who was out for his daily (fast) walk which I interrupted. Of course, I had to explain my reason for wandering around this exclusive area with its security guards and no cars allowed to park on the road. He lived on the estate and confirmed that other than the houses and golf courses there was nothing else nearby. The next town is not that far away but I still found it odd that this was neither a large village nor small town but a very exclusive private residential area.

The gentleman took me round a few roads to see some of the houses. 

The name Moor Park comes from the Moor Park Mansion, a Grade 1 listed Palladian building set within over 300 acres of landscaped parkland. Originally built in the late 17th century for the 3rd Earl of Bedford. Moor Park was opened as a golf club in 1923. The Rickmansworth Urban District Council purchased the Mansion and surrounding acres of land in 1937 to stop any further development which was then leased to the golf club. In 1994 the golf club purchased the freehold and the Moor Park heritage Foundation was established. The gentleman I met showed me where the golf course was and I decided to take a look. I walked along the drive leading to the clubhouse but after reading two signs telling me specifically that walkers and cyclists were not allowed. I decided to turn back and go to the next station on the line.

I felt this was a very strange visit. It was very different from any other station I've been to with its lack of schools, churches and cafes. I felt uneasy knowing that security cameras and guards were probably following my every move. 

Northwood

This is the 26th station I have visited on the Metropolitan line.  The Metropolitan railway was extended to Northwood in 1887.

The station is small with nothing to make it stand out from the  rest. As with the last few stations, only the Metropolitan line trains stop here.

I did find Labyrinth number 9/270 without too much of an effort.

I could see that the exit  was above the railway lines so I left the platform via the staircase.

More posters from the 100 Years, 100 Artists, 100 Works exhibition  celebrating 100 years of the London Transport symbol, the roundel which was celebrated in 2008.  This poster is titled 'Alphabet of Underground Soul'. by David Blandy.

 

Not a very attractive frontage  to the station. I wasn't really expecting to find much of interest here and I wasn't wrong These small towns are attractive places to live with good access to transport and other facilities but  as far as finding places of interest, I think I am asking for too much.

Across the road from the station is a wooden carving with the town's name.

In the centre of the town is the war memorial. This memorial was unveiled in 1921 to remember all those who died in WW1 and has the names of 103 local men who gave their lives  engraved on it.

 It has been revised more recently to include mention of WW2.

The roads close to the war memorial have a variety of shops and cafes. 

 

These bubble tea shops seem to be springing up all over the place. Bubble tea is a cold drink typically made with black tea, milk, some type of sweetener, ice and the 'bubbles' which are tapioca pearls. Lots of different varieties of the drink have now been created which might include fruit juice, flavoured syrup and apparently 'popping' bubbles. I am a tea drinker but I am yet to be convinced that tapioca is an improvement to my morning cuppa. 

I walked down one of the roads and round a corner into a cul-de-sac which was dominated by the Northwood Methodist church. 

To the right of the church was this building which houses the Ark Synagogue.

On the other side was the local library.

I wandered around the surrounding roads and found a leafy pleasant suburb. I didn't see anything to make it stand out but nor was there anything wrong with it either. There was a variety of housing with the majority being family houses. No sign of any high rise blocks here.

A couple of days after visiting Northwood it was featured on the TV programme Location, Location, Location as having some expensive and much larger properties in a very convenient suburb of London.

Northwood Hills

I am anticipating a small station in a rural setting surrounded by hills. The previous station was a wonderful surprise with its medieval buildings so I am excited to see what this one is like. 

The station had a couple of floral displays brightening up the platforms.

There are just the two platforms at this station. One for northbound and the other southbound as it only services the Metropolitan Line. This numbers 25 on my list of Metropolitan stations visited.

I had to go back and find this station's labyrinth. Now that I'm on a mission to find the first one I don't want to miss any on this section of the line.

The station opened in 1933 and was followed by much building of houses over the next 20 years or so.

Outside the station were enamelled wall murals showing a rural setting.

It wasn't as rural as I thought but the row of trees down the centre of the High Street leading to more trees and a hill in the distance gave a first impression of maybe more rural than urban.

The usual map that you find outside underground stations had been removed for updating. This was unfortunate as I rely on these maps to give me some idea of anything of interest nearby.

 

One shop stood out as being a bit different as you don't often see a guitar shop on a small High Street. This one not only sold guitars but also a large selection of guitar effect pedals. With more time and nerve I would love to have gone in and played around.

I had a late start this morning and it was already midday so I decided to have lunch somewhere before starting my walk. This cafe looked very pleasant and I was assured they had a brunch menu. Only three other tables occupied so it seemed perfect. I ordered a cheese and tomato omelette. My food arrived after a 20 minute wait.

The fluffy omelette I was expecting turned out to be two well cooked, hard pancakes with cheese and tomato in the middle. Yuk! When I mentioned to the waitress that this was not an omelette she didn't say anything but brought the menu back to me which showed that omelette was under the heading 'Crepes'. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. My fault I suppose for not spotting the heading. After tasting this strange concoction I no longer felt hungry and left. (yes I did pay as it was my mistake).

The Namaste Lounge used to be called the Northwood Hills Pub. Sir Elton John started his career here at the age of 16 by playing here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. He was paid a £1 per night plus whatever was given as well as  a whip round amongst the public. Pictures of the pub are featured on some of his album covers. The pub is now an Indian restaurant.

I moved swiftly on and spotted the library, always a good source of information about the local area. I had just found the local history section when I was told they were closing and I would have to leave.

I continued walking through the village and followed the road uphill which led to a private golf course.

I was now high enough to see above the roof tops.

I walked back down the hill and did a circular walk back towards the station. Other than houses there was nothing else of any real interest.

This green area is known as Hog's Back and was originally part of Hundred acre farm until the mid 20th century when it was sold to Hillingdon Borough Council. By the 1950s the building of housing estates had begun and by the 1960s houses had been built on three sides of the open space. Since then this area has become a site of importance for Nature Conservation and will not be built on. 

At the end of the road were three houses with flat roofs which look unusual. I thought they might have been listed but I could find no information about them.

Turning left I arrived back at the station. Although a pleasant place to live it didn't make much impact on me. I expect I will remember Northwood Hills for having one of the worst lunches on this Underground Challenge.