Along the Platform
Taken on the Western Platform
Taken during a tour of Aldwych underground station, organised by the London Transport Museum.
First proposed by Great Northern and Strand Railway (GN&SR) in 1898, Aldwych station finally opened by Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (GNP&BR) in 1907 as Strand station, on a spur line from Holborn. The building itself was built following the standard design of stations as part of Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL) Leslie Green (1875-1908) .
Considering the purpose of the tube line was to bring travellers down to theatreland, it's quite ironic therefore that it was built on the site of the Royal Strand Theatre (which was acquired and demolished for the works).
The eastern tunnel was decommissioned in 1914, due to low use, and the station was renamed Aldwych the following year. In 1917, during zeppelin raids, 300 paintings from the National Gallery were stored on the disused Eastern platform. The station continued to operate after the Great War, but always in low numbers.
In 1940, during the Second World War, Aldwych was closed and acted as an air raid shelter, as well as resuming its role of storing national treasures (this time the British Museum and allegedly the Royal Family's tea service).
The station reopened in 1946, but passenger numbers stayed low and eventually the station closed for good in 1994.
Along the Platform
Taken on the Western Platform
Taken during a tour of Aldwych underground station, organised by the London Transport Museum.
First proposed by Great Northern and Strand Railway (GN&SR) in 1898, Aldwych station finally opened by Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway (GNP&BR) in 1907 as Strand station, on a spur line from Holborn. The building itself was built following the standard design of stations as part of Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL) Leslie Green (1875-1908) .
Considering the purpose of the tube line was to bring travellers down to theatreland, it's quite ironic therefore that it was built on the site of the Royal Strand Theatre (which was acquired and demolished for the works).
The eastern tunnel was decommissioned in 1914, due to low use, and the station was renamed Aldwych the following year. In 1917, during zeppelin raids, 300 paintings from the National Gallery were stored on the disused Eastern platform. The station continued to operate after the Great War, but always in low numbers.
In 1940, during the Second World War, Aldwych was closed and acted as an air raid shelter, as well as resuming its role of storing national treasures (this time the British Museum and allegedly the Royal Family's tea service).
The station reopened in 1946, but passenger numbers stayed low and eventually the station closed for good in 1994.