A particularly tough question about Loughborough Junction railway station history

[Pickman's model]

Incidentally, to complement TodayIsCaturday's post of the title register, here's the title plan.

View attachment 57459

oh - it's mentioned in this directory http://leicester.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16445coll4/id/112401/rec/6 with william dixon as proprietor: though it wasn't immediately obvious to me what they were doing there.

 

[CH1]

Here is the Land Registry title information
It contains information on current ownership and info from 1960 but disappointingly nothing earlier than that.
Watney Mann was a brewery company..

Were you able to get the plan to confirm that 204a Coldharbour Lane is the whole site - and that the Celestials own all of it, not just the building visible directly looking down the alley from the street? (See Editor's last pic)

If so maybe someone should ask them if they mind photos being taken inside & out?

Presumably if it has been used as a factory and a social club there might not be many "original features" left. But you never know.

I admire everybody's diligence on this thread - and I am grateful you are sharing the knowledge.

 

[Pickman's model]

Were you able to get the plan to confirm that 204a Coldharbour Lane is the whole site - and that the Celestials own all of it, not just the building visible directly looking down the alley from the street? (See Editor's last pic)

If so maybe someone should ask them if they mind photos being taken inside & out?

Presumably if it has been used as a factory and a social club there might not be many "original features" left. But you never know.

I admire everybody's diligence on this thread - and I am grateful you are sharing the knowledge.

take the outside pictures and then worry about what the godbotherers think about pictures inside

 

[TodayIsCaturday]

Was used for photographic processing at one point:



https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49024/page/8052/data.pdf

 

[TodayIsCaturday]

Were you able to get the plan to confirm that 204a Coldharbour Lane is the whole site - and that the Celestials own all of it, not just the building visible directly looking down the alley from the street? (See Editor's last pic)

thatguyhex posted the plan just up the thread

 

[CH1]

I happened across mention of a "Loughborough Assembly Halls" while searching and found this charming news article from 1906 in which Brixton residents are divided on the topic of whether music halls are a good thing for the area. The more things change, the more they stay the same!

I think this must refer to the Loughborough Hotel - which certainly had assembly rooms attached (part of which ended up on the Foxtons thread recently). One of the objectors is from Flodden Road which is much nearer the Loughborough Hotel than it is to Loughborough Junction.

 

[Pickman's model]

there was a loughborough hall club: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33354/page/899

 

[toggle]

I'd guess that the original entrance has been covered by the extensions. Anyone fancy joining the church to check the brickwork inside?

alternately, just ask them if you can have a look about and take a few pictures and if they have noticed anyhting interesting in the less accessible areas or covered up any features while decorating the place.

 

[thatguyhex]

I happened across mention of a "Loughborough Assembly Halls" while searching and found this charming news article from 1906 in which Brixton residents are divided on the topic of whether music halls are a good thing for the area. The more things change, the more they stay the same!

"Brixton is a decidedly musical neighbourhood" - William Spencer Clarke, The Suburban Homes of London, 1881.

Keeping it on topic, on the preceding page:

Going still further south, as far as the White Horse, a public-house standing some distance from the main road, and with an old-world flavour about it pleasant to the traveller. Loughborough-road commences, an important thoroughfare leading up to a crowded colony, designated by the uneuphonious name of Loughborough Junction.

Never has a place been so metamorphosed by railway influence than this same 'Loughborough Junction.' Ten years ago the Chatham and Dover trains did not condescend to stop here. There were very few shops, and those only of a modest character; not a house intervened between Cold Harbour-lane and Dulwich, to reach which it was a pleasant stroll of about two miles through a narrow lane bordered by poplars, and still known as Poplar-walk; while on either side the railway to Heme Hill was a long tract of land, once a nursery-ground, much beloved by goldfinches and bullfinches, a fact not altogether unknown to the birdcatchers, who used to find the place a very profitable hunting-ground. Now, Loughborough Junction has the largest traffic of any of the Chatham and Dover stations, and no station in London has a better service of trains, and no locality better accommodation in shops. All the land as far as Heme Hill has been laid out in streets, and how many houses have sprung up on the various plots during the last five years we dare not say.​

 

[toggle]

there was a loughborough hall club: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33354/page/899

go back a page or so and there's a link to some docs at kew about winding up that company

 

[Pickman's model]

go back a page or so and there's a link to some docs at kew about winding up that company

i saw there was a second link from 1929 winding it up, but felt my link suggested on the way out anyway

 

[thatguyhex]

In the Estates Gazette Vol 233 Pt 2 (p. 842) there's a mention (Google Books snippet again) of the building being let for £3,000 p.a. (1975 money if we trust GB metadata, which has already let us down once...). I did a search for it in LexisNexis's archive of the publication, but it's not appearing for whatever reason.

 

[CH1]

Not sure if this is of interest. I went poking about on Friday, starting in "Station Place" at the end of Rathgar Road and Station Avenue. If you look at this photo there is a girder support which fits in with the map in post #1. In fact the locals I chatted to called it the bridge, as opposed to an arch - and presumably this goes through to the back of the Loughbrough Hall, and might have been the way passengers booked & went up to their platforms, judging by the map.
Note that in taking this photo the "Metropolitan" section - which would have been the original Loughborough Road station platforms serving the Holborn-Victoria route was behind me, off to the left out of the picture.
The present Thameslink platforms are in front behind the parapet above the girder.

Obviously you can't get through there - and the "guvnor" of the business in the arches was not around so I could go through his arch.

Nevertheless a couple of the car repair staff were anxious to show me the other (Loughborough Road) side of the "Metropolitan" line.
Here is the rather sombre electrical substation looking like a cathedral of power on the blink:

And here is a view through an arch to the immediate right point-of-view. The arch is clear and disused, but carrying cables. Not sure if the daylight at the other end is behind Loughborough Hall, or an intermediate point.

This area was supposed to be done up under Brixton Challenge - clearly they never got it together.

 

[thatguyhex]

If so maybe someone should ask them if they mind photos being taken inside & out?

INCOMING.

 

[CH1]

INCOMING.

You mean you've done it?
I think if I was going to try I'd have to smarten up.
They used to go round with all white robes and bare feet. I imagine you need to take your shoes off inside the church.

 

[thatguyhex]

Correct on all counts (well, I'll take your word for it about smartening up...). I'm now in the process of sorting out my photos for y'all.

 

[thatguyhex]

Full album is uploading, so some highlights in the meantime.

 

[thatguyhex]

Here you go! Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0 for reuse (author is Scott Martin).

I'd like to offer my thanks to the Railway Gods for granting me the gift of the line being closed due to engineering works, and the station being staffed only by one sleepy man who I was able to wave a folder of printouts at and say "I'm here to do historical research". I'd also like to thank the staff of the Celestial Church of Christ, who were lovely and very helpful.

My findings: the Church has been onsite since 1984. They leased the building until 1996, when they were able to buy it. They've made a number of alterations to the building, including shortening the full-height windows to prevent break-ins, which happened a number of times in their early history. The building has an upper and lower hall, the upper hall shown in the post above. Sadly the suspended ceiling hides any evidence of the roof beams, which I suspect would be quite interesting. Most of whatever heritage features may have remained are similarly hidden under 30 years of modern building changes, but the stairwell retains an attractive floral cast-iron balustrade.

The Church has an outdoor area that's underneath the former Up platforms on the Denmark Hill branch. Unfortunately some of my shots of the alley space around the edges of the building are a little blurred because I was standing on a pile of rubble and my elderly camera doesn't have a de-shake feature on it, but you should be able to get the idea.

I managed to get some pictures of the area below/between the former platforms on that side, which is now the rear end of the industrial unit at the end of Rathgar Road that CH1 took a picture of the front of, which may be of interest as a rare view. The former platforms themselves are now pretty wild, and littered with graf writers' discarded spray cans and various bits of railway debris. They're also in a bit of a state, you can see where I found a hole giving a view down to the ground!

That's everything I think.

 

[thatguyhex]

P.S. Lambeth's plans for the building and its surrounds are pp. 52-55 of the Loughborough Junction Plan (which I've only just read for the first time). It's an attractive, sturdy hall and demolishing the buildings hiding it from street view is a pretty good idea. Although it looks like Lambeth is planning to give the Celestial Church of Christ the boot. They keep referring to it as "old station building [sic]/Snopake factory", as if the last 30 years it's just been empty.

 

[boohoo]

@theguyhex Can I get you to help me research my essay? Croydon library are making me wait for access to any material in their archives!

 

[CH1]

P.S. Lambeth's plans for the building and its surrounds are pp. 52-55 of the Loughborough Junction Plan (which I've only just read for the first time). It's an attractive, sturdy hall and demolishing the buildings hiding it from street view is a pretty good idea. Although it looks like Lambeth is planning to give the Celestial Church of Christ the boot. They keep referring to it as "old station building [sic]/Snopake factory", as if the last 30 years it's just been empty.

These photos are brilliant, thanks.

I have seen the Loughbrough Junction plan - they unveiled it at the LJAG AGM last year if memory serves.

I wondered then about this piazza they had in mind for the front of the station. I asked somebody what happened about buildings people owned, and they looked a bit bemused.

In interesting that the consultants DSDHA don't seem to have bothered to contact the actual owners of the Loughborough Hall either - or know about its history or current use.

Sorry to get off on as hobby horse - but I am still smarting from two consultations earlier in the week - MUSE on Monday and Fluid on Thursday (i.e. "Your New Town Hall" and the "Brixton Central Co-design Workshops")

Actually it is the LJAG AGM next Thursday - Dame Tessa Jowell MP guest speaker. Maybe I might raise this issue (meaning what happens to existing neglected stakeholders) over refreshments at the end of the meeting.

What would the council have to pay to CPO "Loughborough House" in front of the hall? (currently being enlarged).

I take it from your post that if I wanted to use one or two of the photos in a Brixton Society website article you are happy with that provided I give credit as per the license?

 

[thatguyhex]

@theguyhex Can I get you to help me research my essay? Croydon library are making me wait for access to any material in their archives!

Are you serious? What I do is strictly amateur hour, have-Google-and-camera-will-travel stuff

In interesting that the consultants DSDHA don't seem to have bothered to contact the actual owners of the Loughborough Hall either - or know about its history or current use.

There is one early page where it's marked as a place of worship but - yes. A surprising omission in what was otherwise an excellent document.

Actually it is the LJAG AGM next Thursday - Dame Tessa Jowell MP guest speaker. Maybe I might raise this issue (meaning what happens to existing neglected stakeholders) over refreshments at the end of the meeting.

Do update the thread if you do, that sounds worthwhile.

What would the council have to pay to CPO "Loughborough House" in front of the hall? (currently being enlarged).

That's a good question. I wonder if the people paying for that enlargement are even aware that Lambeth is eyeing up giving their whole block the chop.

I take it from your post that if I wanted to use one or two of the photos in a Brixton Society website article you are happy with that provided I give credit as per the license?

Absolutely, I took them for anyone who would find them useful.

 

[CH1]

Thanks everybody, I've put this up on the Brixton Society website.
Hope there are no major errors. If anything needs changing please less me know.

 

[CH1]

I've got a photo of that alleyway. It's highly unlikely to have ever been an entrance to a station, IMO.

I don't think there is a map or plan which shows the hall without the shops/buildings in front - is there?

 

[editor]

I thought I'd throw in this pic of the station in 1910



From: http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark_fullsize&id=54

 

[CH1]

I thought I'd throw in this pic of the station in 1910
View attachment 57547
From: http://landmark.lambeth.gov.uk/display_page.asp?section=landmark_fullsize&id=54

Seems to be taken from the defunct second south-bound platform to Herne Hill?

 

[calno4]

Bit more to throw into the mix, talk here of a large hall and a minor hall and dwelling accommodation. The Era 09 March 1889.

 

[Lizzy Mac]

My next door neighbour is 90+ and lives in the family house HH Rd Loughborough Junction end.
He loves a gab. I wonder if he would be worth talking to.

 

[teuchter]

I didn't see this thread until now (thanks to CH1 linking fromanother) but have just had a read through. All very interesting. I've been puzzled for a while about exactly how the original station was laid out. Some time, if I have some time to spare, I'd like to sit down and go through all the info and photos on this thread and try and draw out a plan of how it all worked.

 

[editor]

There's some interesting pics on eBay from 1964. Loving the semaphores.