The City & South London Railway was built with
small tunnels (by modern standards). To bring the tunnels up
to a measurement allowing integration with the Charing Cross,
Euston & Hampstead line (into what became the Northern Line),
enlargement work was undertaken between 1922 - 1924. Initially
work was originally attempted out of normal passenger hours but
a tunnel roof collapse north of Elephant & Castle caused
the entire line to be closed for the remainder of the work. City
Road was not re-opened when the rest of the line did, the cost
of upgrading and expanding the station deemed not financially
viable for its low passenger use.
The partial remains of the station building seen here,
houses the lift shaft (now just used for ventilation purposes).
Its location is the junction of City Road and Moreland Street.
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The entrance door to the station in 2007.
Photo: Philip Lindhurst. ©
2007
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Platform level.
The broad vertical stripes at the top of the photo
are from bad film developing!
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Evidence of its subsequent use as an air-raid shelter.
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When this stretch of what became the Northern Line
was closed for tunnel widening in 1922, the station platforms
were lengthened as well. As this station was not going to be
re-opened after the widening works, the platforms were never
lengthened.
Even viewed from a passing train, it is apparent just how short
the platforms are.
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This small crossover passage between the platforms
looks strangely marooned with the actual platform removed.
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The southbound platform looking east at the track heading down
(literally!) to Old Street.
The Highbury & Islington Express wanted to run
an article about the abandoned stations in their area (this one
and York Road). London Underground refused to let them go down
and take photos, so the paper asked if they could use some of
the pictures on this web site instead. (They entitled the article
"How I saw a secret world underground" - so much for
academic contribution!).
The photo here is one of the shots they used, although they printed
it back to front for some reason. This is the correct way round.
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The southbound platform looking west.
(Photo: 2008)
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Looking down at the steps leading to the northbound
platform.
(Photo: 2008)
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(Photo: 2008)
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Facing back toward the area shown in the photo above.
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Similar view as above. The white tiling was painted
over but some of it is visible.
(Photo: 2008)
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Looking down at the emergency stairs.
(Photo: 2008)
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Top of the emergency stairs.
(Photo: 2008)
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