Pretty Tube Stations

Anyone not wanting to read a geeky train-related post, turn away now...

Source: London Transport Museum

Okay, now I'm alone with my fellow transport enthusiasts, I can gush unashamedly about Underground stations.  I was very pleased to read the other day that English Heritage has listed 16 new tube stations, particularly as some of these are ones for which I have a particular, personal fondness.

I've always liked Russell Square and Chalk Farm:

Russell Square Station (Photo by Diorama Sky via Flickr)

Chalk Farm Station (Source: Geograph)

I just love the "ox-blood" faience - it's such a rich and distinctive colour, which was the point really, to draw people's attention so they could spot the nearest tube station easily.  And they have beautiful green, art nouveau style tiles once you're inside.  Well, underground travel isn't a terribly pleasant experience, so why not liven it up with some vibrant colours?  The architect responsible for these stations (along with other lovelies such as the already listed Mornington Crescent ) was Leslie Green, who designed 40 stations for London Underground between 1903-1907.  Impressive turn-out for only a few years in service but I suppose when you're onto a good thing with your design and also aiming for standardisation, it's a lot easier...

I was also quietly pleased to see Wood Green make the list as well.  This used to be my local tube station and - although I didn't enjoy living out there particularly - I can't help but have a soft spot for the building I ventured through every day on my way to work.

Wood Green Station (Source: Wikipedia)

And back in the day (Source: The Independent)

I have to confess that, although the ticket hall is quite nice, overall it never particularly spoke to me architecturally.  Even though it is 1930s and by Charles Holden, who has some other buildings that I adore.  Holden is probably the architect most famously associated with London Underground, introducing a modern, minimalist style to the stations during the 1920s and 1930s.  He also designed 55 Broadway as the headquarters of London Underground - a fabulous building from the outside, though I've never been privileged enough to see inside it.  To me, Wood Green Station doesn't hold up quite as well against his other work but there you have it - someone must have deemed it worthy!

Source: Doug Rose

Garden scrolls and serpentines

 I came across this wonderful drawing whilst doing some archive research the other day:

It shows the grounds of a villa near Crystal Palace Park in Sydenham, and it wasn't relevant to what I was looking for but I snapped a shot as it captured my fancy.  I'm really getting into historic gardens lately and I thought this layout was just fabulous.

My knowledge of garden and landscape history isn't so hot (yet!) but this was a late 19th century drawing and I think the trend around then was for picturesque, "natural" (but in reality, completely contrived) landscapes.  There's a bit of formality closer to the house here:

But overall, there's not much formal symmetry or straight lines in this garden.  Check out that scrolled path at the bottom!

Oh, the thought of traipsing about in that garden just makes my toes tingle with excitement!  Meandering along the serpentine paths, ducking into the wooded borders for games of hide and seek...

And I wonder what those open lawns might have been used for?  Garden parties?  Croquet?  Sigh!

Churchill War Rooms Late Opening

Now, this post would have been a report on the Chap Olympiad which took place yesterday, had I not dropped my camera in a jug of Pimms during said Olympiad.  Unfortunately, my camera didn't survive.  My memory card should hopefully be okay so I should have the few pictures of the event I did manage to take before the alcohol-based drowning, but my outfit pictures were taken on an emergency disposable camera.  So I think that post will now wait until I finish my film, develop it and scan in any shots that turned out decently...  How old school.

But I thought I'd just drop by to alert any Londoners to the upcoming late-night opening of the Churchill War Rooms on Friday, 12th August.

The map room at the War Rooms (source: CWR website)

Very sadly, I'm unable to attend as I have prior commitments but hopefully someone else out there in blogland might be able to attend and I can live vicariously through them.

It's an American-themed night to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our "special relationship" with the States, and there will be dancing and drinking and history - three things which, combined, should make for a very fine evening.  I'm terribly sad I have to miss it but there will always be another time, I suppose...  And perhaps next time it will be purely British, which (let's face it) will be more my cup of tea!