Piccadilly Line
 

 

DOWN STREET

(1907 - 1932)

 An unusual case of a central London station being closed completely without replacement of some sort: Down Street was built in a well-to-do area (such that local inhabitants were unlikely to use the underground), was too close to the stations either side of it (Hyde Park Corner and Dover St), and was in a generally low catchment area anyway.

Its neighbouring stations received new entrances closer to Down Street when they were rebuilt for escalator installation thus allowing for Down Street to be closed. As with Brompton Road, its patronage was so light that not all trains had been stopping there. The closure of the two stations allowed journey times on the Piccadilly Line to be reduced.

The platforms at Down Street were bricked up during World War II, so there is only a fleeting glimpse to be had from passing trains.

 

 

 

 
There are several of these orientation diagrams located around the station site. This one is simplified to show only passages relevant for escape.

 

 

 
The telephony room was sprayed with paint from top to bottom in some strange post-war attempt to hide its original purpose. Someone has removed some of the paint to reveal this original way out sign.

 

 

 
World War II telephony equipment still in situ, albeit completely sprayed with paint.

 

 

 
World War II telephone terminating blocks still in situ. This space is the former platform space; the open door leads to the running tunnel.

 

 

 

View through the open door: looking westward from the western end of the eastbound platform.

With the expansion of the Piccadilly Line in the 1930s, a central London reversing facility was needed. Two tunnels were built from Down Street as far as Hyde Park Corner. The western ends of the platforms were demolished and the space used for the step-plate junctions, as seen here. The sidings to Hyde Park Corner can accommodate two full length trains and can be accessed, on foot, from Hyde Park Corner station.

The original tiled rings around the ceiling are still visible (those rings, distinctive to Yerkes built stations, are still very much in evidence on the Northern, Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines).

 

 

 
The platform area. The original station wall is on the right, as indicated by its curved nature, and the brick wall now separating the platform area from the running tunnel is on the left.

 

 

 
The steps leading to the passageway that was adapted for World War II use.

 

 

 
Another part of the platform with a very narrow throughway.

 

 

 
Surviving small section of the westbound platform not screened from the running track.

 

 

 
Small portion of original station name lettering that still survives.

 

 

 
Eastern end of the eastern platform facing eastward.

 

 

 

The passageways between the station building and the platforms are quite long: siting the station building on Piccadilly itself would have been prohibitely expensive so it was built in a side street instead. The running tunnels are under Piccadilly though so long passageways were needed to connect the two. Probably another contributory factor to the station's demise.

 

 

 
Tiling still intact.

 

 

 
The bottom of the lift shaft. The ceiling just about visible is a false one built after closure. The steps visible on the top right of the photo lead to a trap door in it.

 

 

 

The 'torpedo' lift shaft built at Churchill's insistence in the centre of the emergency stair shaft.

 

All photos on this page: 2009

 

 

Holloway Road (Piccadilly Line)

 

 

 

For Nick Catford's site on Down Street station, click here.