Beckenham Hill

Beckenham Hill is unique along the Catford Loop for two reasons. Firstly, it is the only station along the route to feature its main building at the same level as the platforms (as per all such structures originally on the line, this is positioned on the ‘’up’’ side). The second reason concerns structural design. As mentioned within other sections of this website, architecture along the Catford Loop was standardised on two variants; Crofton Park and Bellingham were of one distinct type, Catford, Beckenham Hill, and Ravensbourne were of another. Of the latter group, both Ravensbourne and Catford have witnessed significant structural alterations over the years which have resulted in the destruction of their original station buildings. Once single-storey, constituted of red brick, and demonstrating square window frames and distinctive triangular pitches, these buildings may now be lost to us, but their design traits remain within the still extant structure at Beckenham Hill. This amply illustrates why this station is now historically important, despite itself having been the subject of economical measures in the latter British Rail era.

Beckenham Hill opened with the Catford Loop on 1st July 1892, concurrent with all other stations along the route. The aforementioned station building measured some 24 ft by 85 ft, which compared to the general 38 ft by 38 ft ground area of its Loop Line counterparts. Attached to the main structure’s platform-facing façade was a pitched-roof canopy, some 125 feet in length, matched by an identical structure on the ‘’down’’ side. Again, the canopy design was standardised at all stations along the route, but subsequent alterations have left Bellingham and Crofton Park as the only sites to retain the original 1892 architecture. Further mention should be made of the ‘’down’’ side canopy at Beckenham Hill: this was backed at its rear partially by a brick wall (only Catford boasted timber rear elevations, as a weight saving tactic upon a viaduct), and partly by a brick-built waiting shelter. In addition, the canopy featured wooden wrap-a-round ends. Naturally, linking both platform surfaces was the customary enclosed footbridge, iconic of the route, this spanning for some 70 feet at the London end of the layout. The canopies of both platforms stretched up to the footbridge entrances, providing passengers with the luxury of full protection from the elements. As a consequence, the main station building had a canopy overhang at its London end of 40 foot.

There is one structure which has yet to be mentioned: the signal box. Saxby & Farmer were drafted in by the LC&DR on numerous building projects as signalling contractors, the Catford Loop being one such scheme. A signal cabin, identical in appearance to that still in existence at Sturry, emerged beside the ‘’up’’ line. This was rather detached from Beckenham Hill station itself, for it was positioned at the ‘’country’’ end of the layout, on the opposite side of the road bridge. Like the example at Crofton Park, the signal box here controlled a simple layout consisting of no more than the running lines and a trailing crossover.
 

This first scene depicts Class 465 No. 465159 ready to depart Beckenham Hill on 23rd

February 2007 with a Victoria stopping service. Just about visible is the station building,

roofless footbridge, and canopy. David Glasspool

Another London-bound view from 23rd February 2007 reveals the current situation on the

''down'' platform, namely that a futuristic bus shelter is now a permanent feature. The brick

work surrounding the flight of stairs on the ''down'' side has been spruced up considerably.

David Glasspool

This view from 23rd February 2007 is not too dissimilar from the first picture presented

on the Bexleyheath page, even though nearly forty years separates the structures at these

sites. Whilst the canopy at Beckenham Hill may have witnessed its valance being changed

more than once, both its framework and struts remain of SE&CR origin. David Glasspool

Next: the History Continues >>

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