Amersham Railway Station and associated Platforms

Station Approach Amersham HP6 5AZ

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Railway Station

Age

1892

Architectural and Artistic Interest

The exterior consists of long, single-storey, grey brick building with a prominent timber entrance canopy. The small ticket hall was refurbished during the installation of UTS equipment and retains few of its original features. In contrast, the main platform buildings and canopies survive largely unchanged. The canopies are supported by the standard decorative brackets used by the MR and are notable for the distinctive gable form above the serrated valance; the extensive use of glazing creating a bright and attractive environment beneath. An original latticed footbridge also survives, although a second bridge, built to provide direct access across the railway tracks, was replaced in 1989. Well-preserved 1890s rural station building, with decorative features including timber canopy supported on cast-iron brackets, stone window heads and sills, original timber-framed windows and brick eaves cogging and cast-iron gutters and downpipes. Extensively refurbished ticket hall, but preserves original window and door frames (a) Labyrinth artwork (Amersham 3 / 270)

Group Value

PLATFORMS: One single and one island platform; platforms 2 & 3 (LU) with original 1890s glazed and valenced ridge and furrow canopies with gable having an unusual timber finial at the apex and incorporating decorative cast iron brackets exhibiting the same pattern as those found on entrance canopy (a - c) The columns are mostly of steel, but a section on Plat. 3 is carried by 7 no. cast-iron columns (d) Columns, made by Steven Bros. & Co. of the Milton Ironworks, Glasgow and London, cast with decorative capitals and bases. Accommodation blocks in brick, with blue-brick cogging details, stone window/door heads and sills and original timber-framed windows (g, h) Plat 2/3 waiting room has wood panelling, original surrounds to door and windows and 2 no. wooden benches (i - k) Plat 1. has a timber retail kiosk of mid-20th-century appearance. Plat 2 & 3 each has a double-sided clock with Roman numerals suspended from wrought-iron straps (m) Tiled poster position panels on both platforms (n) Early and now rare signal repeaters (2 no. Plat 1/2; 2 no. Plat. 3) (o) GWR-style iron and timber benches. OVERBRIDGE: Wrought-iron or steel 1890s latticed footbridge with modern canopy (a) The staircases to the overbridge have original panelled-wood and glass sides, but the canopy is modern (b) Support abutment has early bridge plate

Historic Interest

Opened on 1 September 1892 on the Metropolitan Railway (MR) extension from Chalfont Road (now Chalfont & Latimer) to Aylesbury. The station was renamed ‘Amersham & Chesham Bois’ between 1922 and c1934, when the original title was restored. It became the terminus of the line for regular Underground services on 11 September 1961 when the stations north of this point were transferred to British Railways’ control. Amersham is located in the Chiltern Hills and is the highest station on the Underground network (at 490ft/ 149.35m above mean sea level).

Landmark Status

High

n/a

09 Mar 2022