Chessington North station

Image: © Marathon Taken: 4 Sep 2013

Construction of the Chessington line from Motspur Park began in 1936 and opened as far as Chessington South in 1939. Intermediate stations were opened at Malden Manor, Tolworth and Chessington North. Although there was a little house building near Chessington North before the Second World War, the majority of building stimulated by the line came after 1945. This was largely to the north and west of the line and today the area to the south and east along the valley of the Hogsmill River and Bonesgate Stream remains relatively undeveloped. Powers had been obtained to continue the line to Leatherhead but work halted following financial problems and the onset of war. Following the war most of the undulating wood and common land south of Chessington became part of the Green Belt and the proposed extension was abandoned. All the stations are in the rather stark 1930s style seen here at Chessington North. Concrete was much used for all four stations on the line and they were of the same basic design derived from Wimbledon Chase station – see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3094055 An attempt was made to integrate the street buildings of the station with the platform structures and so emulate what London Transport was doing in the 1930s. The Southern Railway’s attempts were far less successful and the smooth lines of the stations were striking when the materials remained unweathered. However, the once very modern-looking stations now look the worse for wear. This is the view from the down platform looking up the line towards London. The day was as hot as it looks.

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