96-027 Christ's Hospital Station
Scan of a slide taken February 1996; Surely a contender for the ugliest station building in England, although Wool probably wins. This is the result of the original buildings being demolished, the following from Wikipedia explains:
"In spite of a plea from the architectural critic Ian Nairn that Christ's Hospital station should be preserved in its original form, rationalisation began in autumn 1972 and continued until December, involving much simplification of the buildings and track layout to reduce them to a size more suited to the station's existing traffic. The station was rebuilt out of all recognition with demolition of all the main station buildings and reduction of the number of platforms from seven to two. The platforms that remain in use were originally numbered "3" and "4"; these are now respectively the Down and Up platforms served by the double track line between Horsham and Billingshurst.
Rubble from the works was used to infill the road for platform 1 and a section of the subway beneath it. In the place of the station building was a car park. The Guildford platforms were fenced off from the rest of the station and they remain in evidence in an overgrown state.
The destruction of the station building has been described as a "mammoth act of vandalism" and a "slaughter". Only the subway and the waiting room on the Down main line platform survived and this was adapted to house toilets and a booking office. A bus-stop type shelter was provided on platform and has been described as being "of a type that should have been outdated 100 years ago." Prior to demolition a "funeral party" was held by pupils and staff of Christ's Hospital school; 120 people attended with special tickets printed with a black border"
96-027 Christ's Hospital Station
Scan of a slide taken February 1996; Surely a contender for the ugliest station building in England, although Wool probably wins. This is the result of the original buildings being demolished, the following from Wikipedia explains:
"In spite of a plea from the architectural critic Ian Nairn that Christ's Hospital station should be preserved in its original form, rationalisation began in autumn 1972 and continued until December, involving much simplification of the buildings and track layout to reduce them to a size more suited to the station's existing traffic. The station was rebuilt out of all recognition with demolition of all the main station buildings and reduction of the number of platforms from seven to two. The platforms that remain in use were originally numbered "3" and "4"; these are now respectively the Down and Up platforms served by the double track line between Horsham and Billingshurst.
Rubble from the works was used to infill the road for platform 1 and a section of the subway beneath it. In the place of the station building was a car park. The Guildford platforms were fenced off from the rest of the station and they remain in evidence in an overgrown state.
The destruction of the station building has been described as a "mammoth act of vandalism" and a "slaughter". Only the subway and the waiting room on the Down main line platform survived and this was adapted to house toilets and a booking office. A bus-stop type shelter was provided on platform and has been described as being "of a type that should have been outdated 100 years ago." Prior to demolition a "funeral party" was held by pupils and staff of Christ's Hospital school; 120 people attended with special tickets printed with a black border"