Back to Holden ways, Hounslow West was the original terminus of the line until the extension to Hatton Cross (022) opened in 1975. It features this uniquely heptagonal shaped ticket hall, and yes there are roundels stained into the glass on each of the seven corners (with the obvious exception of the street facing one which instead caries a 3D roundel on a flag pole).
As you can see, it’s rather popular with the local pigeons.
Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk
Ah that’s better. After Hounslow East (020) I need something a little more traditional. (After all we all know what’s coming at the end of the line…).
Hounslow Central to me looks like a cottage, all be it one that’s completely out of proportion with itself. And does it say Hounslow Central enough times on the frontage? Anyway, look out for this one in the up coming video diary, there’s some nice features about this station.
Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk
Oh. Well this is different. Warning, here come’s some opinion…
Curiously a Holden design for Hounslow East did exist and was even approved for construction by Frank Pick but for some reason it never got built. Instead the original 1909 Edwardian ticket hall remained here until 2002 when this gaudy monstrosity was built by Acanthus Lawrence and Wrightson Architects.
I’m not sure whether the use of black and white images for this project is making Hounslow East look worse than it actually is. Or alternatively whether it’s actually saving you from true horror of the copper green roof, dirty cream tiles and diagonal wooden beams. Yes, you did read that right, those V-shaped beams are made of oak – which I suppose at the very least is interesting and unusual for this period of design. I suppose it’s supposed to look like a tree? Naturally it doesn’t. This is dreadful.
The redeeming feature of this station is the interior ceiling which again is a surprising series of oak beams which wouldn’t look out of place in a high class theatre or concert venue.
Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk
The original draft version of Osterley station featured yet another box like ticket hall. This was later revised by Holden and Hutton who instead opted for this low level ticket hall, tower and spire combination. It was felt this design would be more suitable and in keeping with the open nature of the area it was situated in during construction.
These days the true majesty of Osterely is lost behind tall trees, ugly fences, railings and the traffic of the A4 Great West Road.
Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk
Though I might have a particular downer on the Piccadilly Line I’ve been most looking forward to Boston Manor. Holden’s assistant Charles Hutton played a particularly key role in coming up with Boston Manor’s striking tower which was quite a departure from the usual “Sudbury Box” design that we’ve already seen elsewhere on the line. The style change was necessitated by the limited space available for the ticket hall which sits on top of a raised deck above the tracks.
The design actually takes inspiration from Dutch architecture of the 1930’s, but it instead reminds me of a New York style skyscraper of a similar period. It looks stunning from every angle, especially from the east where it was being silhouetted against the low sun. It acted as a beacon of guidance for me as I walked from Northfields (016). I must remember to come back here at night!
Image copyright A Carter – CallingAllStations.co.uk
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