SideTracked - Stamford Hill
My favourite fact about Stamford Hill station is that apparently it is unique in spanning two boroughs; the entrance is situated in Hackney, while the platforms are in Haringey!
It is 5 miles 3 chains (8.1 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street.
Stamford Hill station opened on 22nd July 1872. Originally it was operated by the Great Eastern Railway as part of their Stoke Newington & Edmonton Railway line. The company targeted semi-rural areas such as Stamford Hill, hoping to stimulate housing development and create a market of commuters travelling into and out of the City (and specifically Liverpool Street, which the Great Eastern Railway was building at the time).
The Great Eastern Railway - and both the station and line - became part of the London North Eastern Railway in 1923. In turn this passed into the British Railways Eastern Region when the railways were nationalised in 1948. The line was electrified in 1960.
London Overground took ownership on 31st May 2015. It operates the Weaver line from London Liverpool Street via Stamford Hill to both Enfield Town and Cheshunt. The Weaver name was chosen in 2024 to "celebrate the rich history of the textile industry and weaving in east London". The London Overground booklet 'The New London Overground Lines' explains:
"The area's textile heritage began with the Huguenots in the 17th century, who established a flourishing silk trade. They were joined in the next century by Irish weavers who were searching for work after the collapse of the Irish linen trade. At the end of the 19th century and during the Second World War, Jewish families who were fleeing anti-Semitism in eastern Europe moved to the area, which revitalised the garment industry. They maintained the famous market at Petticoat Lane. By the 1960s, there was an increase in Bangladeshi immigration due to the area’s low-cost housing and work opportunities in the textile and garment industry. Bringing their own culture to the East End, Brick Lane became a cultural melting pot and a centre for fashion and food. The line weaves its way up to Walthamstow, home to William Morris. His vision was for accessible art for all, and while his designs became popular with the middle and upper classes, he also sold low-cost furniture and embroidery sets to those who were worse off. While textiles and garments are no longer manufactured in London, the modern UK textile industry is a thriving part of the country’s economy and industrial output."
The original brick building was demolished in the 1970s and replaced by the one that remains today. As before, the platforms are reached by some steep stairs downwards - quite awkward if you need to carry a bike or a pushchair.
There are some colourful pictures on the way to and from platform 2, I am not sure who painted them.
Congratulations to Tbear186 for the FTF. Thanks to Southerntrekker for reviewing and publishing.
About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Series website at www.sidetrackedseries.info https://www.sidetrackedseries.info