GOING UNDERGROUND : ARCHWAY STATION

Archway Station Junction Road entrance

photographed in 2006

If, like me, you grew up in the Archway area, seeing it as it is now just increases the nostalgia for the past. Archway Undergrond Station (or "Tube Station" as we called it) played a very important part in our lives. My father actually worked there, met my mother there during the Blitz,  and it was the last place I ever saw him (Southbound platform), also it was, along with the buses, our gateway to a wider world. The Northern Line took us south to the West End - for pleasure and for work. I can still remember every station to Tottenham Court Road - Tufnell Park, Kentish Town, Camden Town, Mornington Cresecent, Warren Street, Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road and if you press me I could go further. Between Kentish Town and Camden Town, if you pressed your face to the window and looked into the darkness you could catch sight of a disused station as the train sped through its ghostly, deserted platforms.  Archway Station with Uncle Arthur's wet fish shop opposite the Junction Road entrance, was originally known as Highgate Station - taking its name from the nearby streets which were known as Highgate New Town (I'll explain that more in my next post) - and only became Archway Station in 1941 when the Northern Line was extended and Highgate became the next station up the line near Highgate Woods. Here are a few wonderfully evocative pictures all taken at Archway Station over the years.

Almost the same angle as the earlier picture, this

shows the Junction Road entrance prior to the

name change.

Passengers on the Up escalator in 1932

The Highgate Hill entrance before the name change.

The ticket hall in the 1950's

*All photographs on this post are copyright of the London Transport Museum photographic collection and are intended only for illustrative purposes. Prints of any of these photographs may be purchased from the London Transport Museum Shop or from their website.