Station Parade, Amersham

Station Parade No’s. 127, 129 & 131 Station Road Amersham Buckinghamshire HP7 0AH

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Purpose built mixed-use development, originally comprising 4 shops on the ground-floor with 3 maisonettes over.

Age

1907.

Rarity

One of the earliest purpose built ‘blocks’ within the then New Town of Amersham-on-the-Hill.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

With The Avenue, Station Parade forms the earliest ‘proper’ development of housing & shops in Amersham-on-the-Hill. In addition, this is a high quality cluster of buildings - even if some could be maintained better - intended as a statement within the early creation of Amersham-on-the-Hill. Furthermore, the style of the buildings for the town is ground-breaking in comparison to the late Victorian/ Edwardian villas which initially appeared, by adopting a then much more contemporary ‘Arts & Crafts’ style. The testimony to this, is the architect John Harold Kennard - whilst working with business partner William Sumner - who was a young unknown subsequently went on from the early works of 1906/7 to designing a significant proportion - certainly more than any other architect - of the New Town of Amersham & the adjoining areas of Chesham Bois. Predominantly of 3 floors, with the uppermost floor being partially set into the roof slope. Shop units front, extend from main body of building onwards pavement at single-storey level. Above, the flat-roofs were originally roof terraces for the 3 maisonettes. 2 out of the 3 retain French doors opening out, at first-floor level. Original decorative tiling remains on extenders list wall end individual shop projections. Aside, totally mismatched shopfronts & replacement windows. Stylised ‘turret’ bays to first & second-floors, at the front, to each corner. Decorative diamonds used in render, original to moulding, including the Kennard ‘5-diamond motif’ visible to the side & rear. Each ‘third’ owned separately & decorated in contrasting to the others. Both original chimney stacks remain. Clay tiles. Brick construction, although rendered & painted at 2-nd floor level. Later tile-hanging over, to right-hand side.

Group Value

Situated beneath the Railway/ Station environs itself (see separate listing), adjacent to Amersham Auction Rooms (see separate listing) & close to The Avenue ( see separate listings for the houses, there).

Historic Interest

Being adjacent to the railway/ located behind the Station adds a sense of historic place within the context of the evolution of Amersham after the arrival of the Railway in the 1890’s. Whilst today, the main body of Amersham-on-the-Hill is on the other side of the railway line, initially early shops such as these were constructed on lower side being nearer to the Old Town because in those days the New Town was still in its relative infancy & the centre of the town was still at the bottom of the hill - as opposed to today!

Landmark Status

Prominent building situated on main road, just before the Railway Bridge at the Station Road which almost serves as one of the main points of entry into Amersham-on-the-Hill.

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04 Nov 2022