A commemorative plaque has been unveiled at Highams Park station to mark the 150th anniversary of the station.
The plaque, which was funded and installed by Arriva Rail London (ARL) and commissioned by Railway Heritage Trust, was unveiled by Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, and members of the Highams Park Planning Group (HPPG) on Saturday 25 May 2024.
Lord Hendy, chair of Network Rail, was joined by residents and local businesses to celebrate the new addition to the exterior of the London Overground station. The plaque was suggested by Lord Hendy at an event on Friday 17 November 2023, celebrating 150 years since the arrival of the railway in Highams Park.
The plaque provides a snapshot of the station’s rich history, including its transition from a small wooden building to the Neville Ashbee design which still stands today.
Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, said: “I’m delighted to have unveiled this plaque at Highams Park Station. The history of Highams Park demonstrates how railway stations are key to the development of local economies and communities and this continues to the present day. It is great to see the pride the community takes in its station.”
Tim Hedley-Jones, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “We are happy to provide a plaque for Highams Park Station, and grateful to Arriva Rail London for funding it. We are pleased at the way in which the community is celebrating its heritage.”
Andy Teesdale, head of concession management at Arriva Rail London, said: “We are pleased to have supported in the funding and installation of this plaque, which reflects Arriva Rail London and Transport for London’s dedication to preserving the heritage of London’s railway network.”
The occasion was marked by a performance from the 17th Pals’ Battalion Band and a mini food market in the station car park.
History of Highams Park station
Highams Park first opened as a wooden station named Hale End in 1873, with the surrounding area being not much more than a rural hamlet at the time and seeing little growth until the arrival of the British Xylonite factory in 1897.
The station was redesigned at the turn of the century by Neville Ashbee, the architect behind Liverpool Street station, and renamed Highams Park after the nearby manorial estate at the edge of Epping Forest. The same building stands today and is used daily by commuters heading into central London.
The station became part of the London Overground network in 2015. What is thought to have once been the station’s parcel office was neglected over the years, regressing to a cluttered storage room. ARL dedicated a fund of over £30,000 to initial works on the space, before handing over to HPPG to manage further refurbishment.
HPPG secured additional contributions of £10,000 from the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) ‘High Streets for All’ fund and £10,000 from Waltham Forest Council, as well as contributing a further £10,000 from HPPG’s own resources to facilitate the refurbishment. The Station Rooms at Highams Park are now available for hire at £6 per hour and are in regular use for all sorts of activities including ‘knit and natter’, first aid training, art classes, committee meetings, shared work space and much more.
Image credit: Arriva Rail London
