Ladywell
Ladywell came into
use with the ‘’Mid Kent & North Kent Junction Railway’s’’ Lewisham to Beckenham
line on 1st January 1857, and demonstrates architecture which is typical of the
route. Like its southerly neighbour at Catford Bridge, the station was opened as a
two-platform affair with no goods facilities. The main building was situated on
the ‘’up’’ platform, measured some 80 foot by 20 foot, and was a single-storey
structure constituted of yellow brick. Square stone window frames were a feature
of the building, and variations of the design used here appeared at both
Beckenham Junction and Catford Bridge. An intricate canopy extended from the
structure’s eastern elevation, stretching the full 80 foot length of the
building,
and the stylish timber valance was of a standardised design. The ‘’down’’ side
waiting accommodation was modest in comparison, comprising a small, brick-built
pitched-roof shelter, approximately 30 foot in length. The appearance of this
can be likened to a much more recent design – that of the ‘’up’ and ‘’down’’
side Network SouthEast-built waiting shelters at Lower Sydenham. From the
outset, passengers used a track foot crossing to walk between platforms, such a
practice being customary at several intermediate stations during the early SER
years. However, by the end of the 19th Century, the Board of Trade began
tightening standards, and at many sites, footbridges became a requirement. Circa
1895, Ladywell received such a structure: a roofed lattice footbridge,
approximately 55 foot long, appeared to the north of the platform buildings.
Shortly after formation in 1899, the SE&CR implemented a programme of improving
its suburban services, which included route upgrades, and station and motive
power depot enhancements. Just after 1900, Ladywell’s ‘’down’’ platform received
new waiting accommodation, positioned immediately adjacent to the northern end
of the existing waiting shelter (which itself was retained). This later waiting
room was just over 30 feet in length, by 15 feet deep, and sported a platform
canopy which matched the design of its older ‘’up’’ side counterpart. With
reference to the ‘’up’’ side canopy, this was extended northwards during the
same works, beyond the footbridge entrance, to reach a total length of just
under 120 feet.
Decided improvement of services on the line occurred under Southern Railway
ownership. On 28th February 1926, a full electric service commenced along the
Bromley North, Addiscombe, and Hayes branch lines. In connection with this,
Ladywell received a revised design of gas lamp, to conform to the SR’s then new
‘’modern image’’, but little else at the station changed until the British
Railways era. In preparation for the commencement of ten vehicle EPB formations,
the platforms were extended at their southern ends during 1954 with
prefabricated concrete. Since, Ladywell has witnessed the demolition of the
original ‘’down’’ side waiting shelter, but little else has changed at this
station. In 1992, the platform surfaces received further extension to accommodate
then proposed twelve carriage services, and acquired television screens for
''Networker'' driver-only-operation. The main ‘’up’’ side building has lost one of its chimney
stacks, and has seen the other halved in height, but this station comfortably
retains a bygone feel.
Class 465 No. 465043 is seen approaching Ladywell on 18th June 2007. In the background, curving
off to the left, is the ''Ladywell Loop''. Commissioned in 1866, this linked the Mid-Kent Line with the
July 1865-opened northern section of the Tonbridge cut-off route, allowing trains to avoid Lewisham.
David Glasspool
A London-bound view on 18th June 2007 shows the original SER structure on the left, the later
covered footbridge, and the ''down'' side building of SE&CR origin. The now demolished SER
''down'' side shelter formerly resided in-between the remaining building and the yellow milepost
6 sign. David Glasspool
The surviving ''up'' side station building of 1857 is observed in this view from 18th June 2007. Very
similar examples still exist at both Catford Bridge and Beckenham Junction stations. On the left can
be seen one of the footbridge's flights of stairs, in addition to the SE&CR's canopy extension. The
building formerly boasted two chimneys, but now
has only half of one left.
David Glasspool
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