I love how the only picture of Charles Holden looks like a Renaissance painting. "UERL's stations were designed by their house architect, Leonardo da Vinci, who had first envisioned underground railways as a young man and built a working scale model out of wood during his seond Florentine period, circa 1502. He ultimately received the contract for the Jubilee Line extension to Thamesmead, but as was his habit, he never completed it."
A station I have much experience with. It is a nice station to use, certainly airy at platform level with the bus station being a big bonus. The one issue (linking back to its lack of accsesability) is that it can get quite crowded at the bottom of the escalators at peak time. One of my favourite parts of the station though is the benches tucked in by the wall to the right of the gate line, a great little place to wait.
Far too many years ago I was born about half a mile away from Turnpike Lane station, so much of my childhood was spent around the station. The booking hall was dominated by a centrally located ticket office, a vaguely oval shaped building, surrounded by those tall ticket machines which were installed all over the underground. The wide start of Turnpike Lane, between Ducketts Common and the Wellington pub, now a Costa, were two island bus stops accessed from the tube station used for passengers travelling to and from the Alexandra Park area. They were very narrow islands and would be far too dangerous for todays traffic. However they were good sites for 'penny for the guy'. If memory serves me correctly, the bus station was more like a garage, with an all encompassing roof and huge doors which were closed when the buses were not running. Great childhood memories and starting point for days with a Red Rover ticket.
I was brought up just round the corner in Westbury Avenue in the late 60's/early 70's. On cold days we would play "catch". We'd split into two teams at Turnpike Lane and buy the cheapest tickets. The first team would get on a train and the second team would get on the next train and try to find the first team. Every time someone says "Turnpike Lane" I recall the warm rush of air and that unique "Tube tunnel" smell!
You said everything I wanted to say. I grew up in the Wood Green area in the 50's and onwards and recall getting a good return on a 'penny for the guy' trips to Turnpike Lane Stn ... my spot was at the top of the left hand staircase at the exit ( facing the junction). As a kid I was fascinated by the number of travellers going to the island stops getting their buses to Alexandra Park and the 217 to Upshire and 231 to Forty Hill. Great memories.
A very handsome building looking a little tired. Hopefully one day, as a relatively unmodified survivor, the station will receive a sympathetic refurbishment.
Just what I was thinking, but a great many of the outlying stations are in sore need of renovation. Sadly, however, the standard of refurbishment these days is so low and doesn't look good for very long.
agree that cosmetic work would go some way to reviving the tired looking passage and entrance. any ideas about disability access, like roofed or overhang re-builds . I do like that the booking hall has been designed to fit the entrance hall, but that's just me
When I first moved to London, I lived on Harringay Ladder; so TPL was my 'first' Tube station as it were. And I did like it. It had a real 'London' vibe to me. Although it's funny. My London friends said that when I moved there I'd use the Tube (or Underground as they advised me non tourists called it) obsessively for a fortnight; then I'd never use it again. That wasn't quite true but as my London geography and familiarity improved I did find my self just walking (or in emergencies using the bus) pretty much all the time. I was studying at Highbury Fields and I used really enjoy just walking back home via Finsbury Park (the actual park). When I moved more central (Hoxton) I just walked pretty much everywhere. I still though enjoyed the whole London Transport aesthetic. I love all the architecture; but TFL also do seem to still have a pretty quirky arty side. I've been really impressed with even their modern projects. They really manage to combine form follows function; but also produce spectacular things to look at. Long may it continue.
I've always loved the Tube,or Underground if you like,but I know what you mean,it's funny how it gets taken for granted after a time when it's on your doorstep. I attended a week-long business course for my company in November 1987,staying at a hotel in Southampton Row. There were attendees from various regional offices round the country on it,from the West Country to Brum to Liverpool to Aberdeen to one young lady from Belfast. In the evenings we'd go out together in one or two or three groups to different things; a little nightclubbing at places like the Hippodrome and a few of us went to see the stage performance of 'Allo Allo,with Gordon Kaye and other members of the familiar cast appearing,although the critics were not kind: "not suitable for adults or children," opined one sniffily. We got well-oiled at a pub,opposite a small park,called the Rising Sun or something similar to that,which offered an oft-changing range of real ales and guest beers; there was one ale which I didn't get round to try,called King of something,that was so strong it had those who imbibed it singing and dancing out in the street,and I still remember the big young Aberdonian chap declaring "it knocked my socks off" in his strong Scottish accent. But when the ones of us who lived in London and the South East said we didn't actually use the London Underground very often (not for not wanting to) in our busy lives,the outgoing young guy from Newcastle,who was a lot of fun,couldn't believe it,saying: "If I lived down here I'd be on it all the time."
@@rjjcms1 I loved living in London; and I am now very much a 'Londonist'. I try to get back up there as often as possible. But it is funny. I know all sorts of obscure London facts and bits of trivia, and the practicalities, like bus routes and nice pubs. And I do all the Geoff Marshall stuff like how to save 5p travelling from Leicester Square to Covent Garden by changing at Nairobi. But when I'd have friends coming down, especially with their kids, I'd have to wrack my brains as to where Buckingham Palace is. I watched the Millennium Wheel being built; and I walked past it several times a week. But I didn't actually go on it until about 2005 when I had some friends in town.
I made a point of visiting this station when I was in London in 2017, as Turnpike Lane was the subject of a OO layout that was exhibited regularly at various model rail shows in and around my native Brisbane. The layout is a vertical cross section featuring a streetscape, concourse and platform with working OO tube trains passing through regularly. Sadly, the station depicted does not match up with the real station at all, but the whole effect is still worth the viewing.
I used to catch the 41 bus every day to Turnpike Lane until 1970 when I left school. I don't use it at all now as I moved to Aus in 1972. Until 1968 it or Manor house was the tube station of choice but then the Victoria line owned so walking distance to Sevensisters. Sadly the Cockfosters extention sounded the death knell of the ex GE Branchline from palace Gates to Sevensisters. After 1932 passenger traffic dwindled away and the line took on almost a rural aire about it until final closure on 7th Jan 1963 What would Sir John Betjman have said?? All gone,,,,,ALL GONE.
Lived & grew up down the road in Tottenham. Never appreciated the beauty of Charles Holden's architecture until a few years ago. An age thing I guess. I was lucky to have Seven Sisters, Manor House & Turnpike Lane stations so near to where I lived. This station was so handy for the bus station next to it too. Fond memories & thanks as always for sharing. 👍🏻👍🏻
I used to live in Brixton and work in Palmers Green, and I would get off the tube at Turnpike Lane mostly because it had a nice WC outside in a separate building, which as an American I found very rare in London. Then a bus ride to work. Thinking back, this was also a more airy feeling station. I was focused on the bathroom, but I might still have done this had that not been the main issue. Thanks for these videos from a former Londoner in Kansas City.
The Piccadilly Line is one of my favourite lines with part of the reasons being a large of majority of stations designed by the very creative architect Charles Holden. 3:48 But I would say that for me, Southgate is my favourite station designed by him because the UFO lookalike is very special and also looks very beautiful at night, hence why I visited the station last week and got great photos. I also watched your Cockfosters documentary video just 30 minutes before finding this video lol
Dammit Jago! i can't think of a better way to describe that interior than very pleasing to look at. For all of its modernity it feels warm visually and comfortably rooted in the past. Something about the tile color, the green decorations, the slightly over the top grilles all seem like call backs to different times. But what the hell do i know?!? i know i like that station! p.s. The abandoned accumulators of London, i'm in !:-) 💜🙏⚡️
Early in the morning the trains don't come that often and it can leave you tempted to go back out and try and get lucky with a 29 to Finsbury park, but yeah great station the locals are blessed to have, this is probably my most used train station ever.
I do like a nice uplighter. Several here to enjoy. I think I've only used the station once in my early 20s so nice to know its still more or less as I (vaguely) remember it. (it was at night, I was going to a party - cant remember if I went back the same way so the party must have been good).
My favourite London Underground stations are those designed by Charles Holden, not just the station buildings, but also the wall tiling at platform level.
I first visited Turnpike Lane in the early 1950’s when we visited my grandmother. In the 1960’s I used to travel through the old tram stops on either the 217 or 231 bus to/from school. Have always liked the Charles Holden designed stations at this end of the line. During the war my mother occasionally took shelter at the station but said it wasn’t something she enjoyed. Lovely video, thank you.
This station has a special place in my memory. As a recently arrived student in London, I recall going to see a film at the ABC ( ? ). The film's title was " Some People " and on the theatre's facade, they had an enormous advert for the film. It was a waist-down shot of a youth wearing jeans and trailing a guitar behind him. Iconic! From time to time I relisten to the theme song on UA-cam by Valerie Mountain, magic days!
One part of UERL, the District Railway, used government money to buy the 1920 built “F”stock, known as “Dreadnoughts”, or “Tanks”, which lasted to 1962, or so. Magnificent all steel trains with Oval windows at the end of each carriage, including the driving cab.
I travelled on those trains on the East London Line from Whitechapel up to Shoreditch with my dad to go to Club Row market. Those oval windows made them seem ancient.
Another fascinating video Jago. Really enjoying the content on your channel. It's interesting that Turnpike Lane has not changed substantially. Do you ever wonder what integrated transport will look like in the future? Perhaps the trams might make a return, replacing the cars in the city under green schemes? I often think the Central line should run all the way to Ongar again and get better integration with services from Chelmsford. I am sure there are other areas which could similarity benefit.
my grandparents used to live not too far from Turnpike Lane in Clarendon road. they lived right next to the coke gas works. i have vague memories of the large gas works gates and the cobbled street. apparently my Granddad used to be a fire watcher from on top of one of the gasometers during the war.
I feel like a time traveler, having travelled back to the 1970s when I lived near Turnpike Lane and used it every day for 5 years or so before I went south to Manor house for 20 years. Back then I never thought of it as user friendly I just took it for granted but on reflection its multiple entry and exit points worked very well. As did the wide platforms. I also admired the lighting stands.
Would it be too much to ask for TfL to give the place a fresh lick of paint and some TLC? It really grinds my gears to see these amazing stations seemingly left to rot. Where’s the investment in maintaining them?
@@heidirabenau511 I find that hard to believe given the recent bail outs. This was happening pre-pandemic too. TfL still operate as a business to generate profit.
I think you're being a little unfair to TfL, generally they are quite good at maintaining their heritage, however, given their current funding crises it's not entirely surprising that what cash they do have, is more likely to be being prioritised to pay for new trains (NTFL) and the completion of the SSL resignalling. In the 80s the system was in a massively worse state aesthetically than it is now.
I used Turnpike Lane station many many times over the years, but sadly not now because of accessibility issues. Can't say I thought it "perfect" but it's a very convenient well-laid-out place. The only downside I can think of is that the bus station is under-used because it's a nightmare for buses to manoeuvre the traffic jams around the crossroads so everyone gets off the bus a stop before and walks the last bit because it's quicker. I remember reading something years back that all the spoil from digging the tunnels came out at Turnpike Lane and was promptly carted off to make bricks.
All this disability access is used as an excuse to rip the soul out of old buildings, I spent several months (term and a half) in a wheelchair during my final (6th) year at school, had to be carted up and down the stairs at school by a couple of rugby playing prefects (one put me in the chair in the first place). Both stations used to get to school had stairs and a footbridge or subway, one a very long staircase outside as was atop a 40ft high embankment, Two burly station staff carried me and the chair up and down them and pushed me onto and off the train (baggage car). Never a problem apart from the solo mile and a half pushing myself home from the station in pouring rain. Bloody glad when I could get back on the Motorbike to and from school (crutches strapped along the side).
@@anarcho-pingu He was just giving his opinion. No need to be so rude. Disabled people always have the option of taking the bus anyway so I don't want to hear anymore complains.
This is my local station. I quite like how it feels like you're outside even when you're underground. The high ceilings, cool air, fake lamp-posts, and natural light all work together quite well.
I was brought up in Wood Green in the 50's and onwards but moved away to Norwich in the 70's. On my return visits to the area the colour of the repointed parts of the brickwork of Turnpike Lane Stn always TRIGGERS me big time whenever I see the building. Couldn't a more sympathetic shade have been used to blend in!!!!! Grrrr.
Really love these videos focusing on individual underground stations, particularly those on the Piccadilly Line. Found memories of changing at Turnpike Lane and getting the bus back to Enfield.
A lovely, clean Holden/Pick design of classic style, but rather spoiled by TFLs messy additions. The lower landing and escalator lights look like they've been cobbled together from bits of MDF, and then there's the ugly and obtrusive trunking for the ubiquitous CCTV cameras. The plus points are many. Particularly love the tiling, uplighters, and those gorgeous bronze Japanese woodcut style ventilation grilles. But as others have said here, the whole place needs some tlc and fresh paint, particularly where concrete has begun to bloom and spall. It surely wouldn't take much to make it look it's best.
It's a good station. But unfortunately a proposed station further south at St Ann's Road was never built, which would be a) closer to my flat; and b) useful for the local centre on Green Lanes, a vibrant but congested local high street which is directly above a long gap between tube stations
Apparently they were considering a station between Manor House and Turnpike Lane, but this was vetoed by Pick as it didn't fit with his idea of bus/tube integration. The bus/tram route just ran parallel to the tube, so there was no obvious benefit from interchange there. So the station was placed where the next bus route crossed - Turnpike Lane. It's an interesting question what's best. Short gaps between stations (eg. original tube lines, Jubilee Line Extension) or longer (Central Line extensions, Victoria Line, Crossrail). I can see both sides of the argument.
From Finsbury Park: forgetting Manor House and cutting straight through (under) the park to a St Ann’s Road Station, and keeping Turnpike Lane would have been an interesting (and probably faster) idea IMO. But then again it would have left Hackney even more cut off
@@djmurray6152 They considered doing that when the Victoria line was being built - the Piccadilly line would bypass Manor House but the Victoria line would incorporate it instead - which would have left Hackney no more cut off before, but in the end they abandoned the idea because it seemed like too much effort. One result is the very long gap between Finsbury Park and Seven Sisters. IMO a station at St Anne's Road would be unreasonably close to Turnpike Lane, but one at Harringay Green Lanes would improve interchange with the Gospel Oak line.
That Wall Ad as you say Cockfosters Extension, Come on Jago , less innuedo. " Up the Piccadilly Line to Turnpike Lane" I feel is some kind of Marie Lloyd music hall song
Turnpike Lane was my home station when I moved to London. There was an Irish guy who worked in the ticket booth who used to ask me things like 'Do you believe in fate' which would lead to a decent conversation (I didn't, he did). I always appreciated the interesting question that differed from 'What did you get up to at the weekend!'. I don't use the tube station any more as I am further up the line but I do use the tunnel to cross over from Westbury Avenue to Turnpike Lane when I am walking up towards Hornsey instead of walking down the road a bit.
First place I lived when I moved to London. I commuted from here , to Chiswick, everyday for about 2 years. The insanity of youth. I've even got a scar on my arm from getting impaled on a spike trying to climb the fence into Ducketts Green Great memories. Thanks for the video.
My local 184 bus service runs from Barnet to TL. Last summer, just to see the full route my wife & I made the whole journey. Like so many London bus services, it does meander a bit along the way. We made our return journey on the Piccadilly line to Oakwood - couldn't face doing the bus trip in reverse !! 😎😱
I grew up in Wood Green and used Turnpike Lane tube station regularly in the 60s and 70s but I am sure it had two more island entrances/exits, primarily for bus use, opposite the entrance next to Ducketts Common. I remember still being able to tell where the tunnels were that had been filled in and tiled over. Never did find out why these were done away with but it must have been in the early 1960s, so a mystery to be solved. There also used to be a green wooden hut on that corner of Ducketts Common which did a lovely cuppa and cheese roll.
Those islands would have disappeared shortly after the trolleybuses (successors to the original trams) were taken out of service in 1962. They created too much congestion, and the petrol/diesel buses were able to be a lot more flexible about where they stopped to allow passengers on and off.. I remember that tea stall! I think the colour varied over the years; seem to remember the outside of it being orange for a time. Only bought stuff from it once or twice, but I always liked to see it and know it was there. Another bit of individual old London gone ...
I used to live in Enfield and regularly travelled to Wood Green and Hornsey by 629 trolleybus or 231 bus in the 50s & 60s. I recall the islands being there through the bulk of the 60s. Trolley buses did not go pass the islands along Turnpike Lane, only along Green Lanes. Wikipedia reports the islands were removed in 1968. My recollections of Turnpike Lane tube station is that the ticket hall was rather dingy - I suspect the windows were not cleaned that often. The new Elizabeth Line central London stations are far airier and lighter than any existing TfL underground stations.
@@Krzyszczynski Thank you for this. Yes I was about 12 when the islands stopped being used so 1962 is right. I also remember in its later years the green tea hut was repainted several times. My Mum had a friend who lived in a ladders house facing Ducketts Common and we thought she was rich and posh...we lived in the Noel Park Estate almost next to the Goods Yard. Wood Green is so different now.
@@BrainW33a The islands stayed in place for some years after they stopped being used. I remember get a bus from there to Ally Pally a No 41 I think and I remember the trolleybuses turning round at Spouters Corner.
Live half a mile away, it’s the crossroads for the whole area and sets the tone for lots of buildings nearby. Underground it’s the most sanely laid out of those I know, above ground it’s a perfect combination of form and function. Big fan, ta for the background
(a) The subway entrance to the station on an island between the carriageways of Turnpike Lane, across Green Lanes from the station building, has been mentioned by others in these comments. It was of great value in the tram era; the trams ran on tracks close to the middle of the road (effectively spitting the road into two carriageways). Trams were symmetrical, so passengers could alight on the right to alight directly to the subway without having to half-cross the busy Turnpike Lane. Other vehicles could pass the trams on their left. (b) Next door to the station was the ABC Cinema, built to match the style of the station buildings.
This is easily one of my favourite videos of yours. I had no real knowledge of Turnpike Lane''s history before, and this has told me so much! I regularly travel through Turnpike Lane, so now I have anticipation for the next time I do.
Again, another station I have known since childhood. When the Cockfosters extension was in the planning stage, this station was to have been called Wood Green, situated as it is at the south end of Wood Green High Road, and the next station north was to have been called Lordship Lane. Then it dawned on someone that there was already a Lordship Lane station on the Crystal Palace High Level branch in south-east London and heaven forbid that Londoners should forget which side of the river they were on if there were two stations in London with the same name. So, before opening, the proposed Lordship Lane Piccadilly Line station was quickly renamed Wood Green which meant another name had to be found for the station originally to have been so named and thus it became Turnpike Lane. Any Londoners that might have been confused, had the original name proposed for Wood Green been given, would only have been so for 22 years for in 1954 the Crystal Palace High Level branch was abandoned and the actual Lordship Lane station demolished. A short piece of embankment on the north side of Lordship Lane, where that thoroughfare was crossed by a bridge, also now demolished, is still visible but a large housing estate now stands where the station once did. Kind regards, David, Crouch End, N8
Wow.. another of your little talks that had me thinking an underground station I, as a tourist, am never likely to visit. Then you showed that little side entrance, and I was swept back to the mid-noughties and realised I have been there, several times. My other half is a massive Eurovision nerd and there was a small Turkish (I think) owned music shop somewhere near there (I want to say the High Street, all I can really remember is that it was a long and boring walk from the underground, and only got better when a retail park opposite had a bit of a makeover and a Costa coffee opened up so I could sit and read a book while he had his orgasm over some album of foreign music by someone who competed in 1986).. needless to say, he was relenting recently that the shop is no longer there, so I will probably never have a reason to head that way again. But thank you for bringing back the memory 🙂
Turnpike Lane is rather dear to me for very sentimental reasons. My dad had a studio flat in Sydney Road on the opposite side of the green to the station so I used it an awful lot, both in terms of visiting my father and also it was the starting point of many fabulous adventures. Generally, we used the tube station only when going to watch Charlton and were running a bit late, otherwise we mostly used the bus station. The 41 would take you up towards Tottenham Hale one way or to interchange north of Hornsey with either the 14 to get to the museums in South Kensington or the 84 to St Albans. The144 took us to Ilford from which we get another bus to Barking and the train back where I lived with my mum. The 29 took you straight into Central London and the 298 went north towards Cockfosters and a park the name of which escapes me now 🤷🏻♂️ I also remember the cinema that was next door as among other things, I saw Jaws II there 🦈 It is a beautifully designed station and I always loved going to it as it felt like a majorly important one. The road layout has completely changed and I do miss the old overall roof. It gave it almost min-cathedral like character which seems to have been lost with its demise. I loved the echoing noise it generated as the buses came and went. Funnily enough though, the most important thing was nothing to do with tubes or buses. It had a continental (i.e. at the time rather exotic) restaurant called (I think)The Chariot. It was run by Cypriots and offered varied Mediterranean cuisine. It was where I learnt what really nice food tastes like. The words ‘moussaka’, ‘cannelloni’ and ‘calamaris’ were not those normally found in an 8 year old working class white kid, certainly not in a Thurrock dive, where the other kids accused me of making the names of these things up…I think it was about his time I started to realise I hated children even if I was one myself 🙄 Funnily enough, over the years I have got talking to many Cypriots of a certain age who lived around that area and were students or whatever, and inevitably when I find out they lived in North London ‘near Wood Green’ I always say “Do you remember the restaurant in Turnpike Lane, The Chariot?” And the answer is always “Oh yes, I knew the people that owned it.” 🤣😂😅 One last thing: I regrettably don’t have a great many pictures of my dad, which seems so strange in a world where people are self obsessed selfie-takers, where concerts and events are (for me) often ruined by people insisting on videoing things that they will in all likelihood never playback anyway, and every other person thinks they are a photographer. I have no footage of him and s@sly I think my mother in one of her voodoo rages destroyed some of them. However, I do have a few precious pictures we took in the phone booth that was situated just inside the entrance of the station and they are utterly priceless to me. So if nothing else, this is a lovely memory of Turnpike Lane 💜 Cheers old boy. Certainly stirred up a few memories 🍻👍🍀
Memories of Turnpike Lane: In the late 50's my future first wife lived just round the corner from the tube station, and I would pop into it after leaving her following an evening at Alexandra Palace roller skating rink, to get a sixpenny Fry's chocolate bar from one of the coin operated machines there. After boarding the bus to take me home to Ponders End, I would sit upstairs in the bus and suck a single square of chocolate slowly, making each one last for two bus stops so that it would not be fully consumed until I got to the Southbury Road bus garage. Later I would bring her back from skating on my brother's 500 cc Matchless motorbike - he joined the RAF - and she was pretty enough for the police officer who once stopped us for speeding to let me off with a caution despite having no L plates. Luckily he didn't ask for insurance details as I didn't have that either, and I think the tax had expired as well!
I think the shopping parade along Green Lanes was built in the same style.I bought my first proper camera from a photographic shop along there in the early 1960s,an Ilford Sportsman.Happy days!.
Yes I thoroughly enjoyed your micro - managed tale from the tube, as you introduced me to Turnpike Lane Station. I am also happy to give you a like, another jolly thumbs up in appreciation. And fully well knowing that in my doing so, I haven't purchased, for my wife, another troublesome overused washing machine, with a coat of aerosol paint to hide the rust. As always, I love your stuff dear Jago, across the briny ocean! Bravo Jago!
Reminds me a little bit of Gants Hill station the inside not the outside for obvious reasons. I used to travel on that line when I was working in North London I often jumped off and went to Wood green shopping centre. As always a great video Jago
Yasss! I recently moved into the area and am using it for commuting every day - I actually was thinking the other day 'oh I need to see if Jago has made a video on Turnpike Lane'. The lamps and the ventilation decoration really picked my interest, as well as the mould on the ceilings haha. It's a pretty tired looking station, I feel like it'd shine a lot more if it was restored a little bit.
It's a long way to Manor House, there should be a station in between. Perhaps at the western end of St. Ann's Road - very convenient for the Salisbury pub and a pint or two of IPA
Jon there was supposed to be one opposite the Salisbury. I think there's a maintenance access door to the line on Harringay Road. My mistake there's a large Ventilation building on Colina Rd at the end of Harringay Road.
There used to be a cinema to the right of the station, the renovated part where i would go to catch double features back in the early 80s. The last one I saw was Mad Max 2 with High Plains Drifter. To and from there I would jump on the 41 routemaster bus.
Interesting video and it was surprising to learn how important the design was in Piccadilly history. I worked there for a bit and it was always busy. If I had known more of the history it would have given me information to pass on to the passengers thus improving the respect of the station. 99% of the underground passengers are great and respect what we tried to undertake but the 1% gave us 50% of our problems. This is a personal view from my time at this dynamic wonderful station.
Great account - and how delicately you manoeuvred around the genesis of this project in the hands of UERL while avoiding any reference to the company's distinguished American progenitor. And yes, Frank Pick was apparently a chippy colleague to work with, or under. He even managed to fall out with Winston Churchill in 1940m
Pick was a bit mercurial, some said he was difficult to deal with, others said as long as you were totally honest with him, he was fine, and could be a good friend. I suppose all great men (and women, of course) have a chippy side. Edit : Beck hated him, which says a lot about both men.
Until around 12 years ago I lived in Edmonton & used Turnpike Lane regularly, taking the 444 bus to & from there to just outside my house. It is a very efficient & I think clean station, with few things to mark it down for.
As someone else has said, it looks a bit grubby in places...come on TFL,a lick of paint and some replastering will work wonders! Another quality vid though, Jago!
There was very clear signage above eye level before one came out giving tram directions to left and right. I so wish the trams would return to North London.
Yes there was a trolleybus stop, as a small boy we went to see a friend of my Mum's in Ponder's End. I remember the bus being large and not the usual bus. Of course it was the 649 trolleybus.
Err; just wondering if you were trying to infer something at the beginning Jago? Talking about the "Cockfoster's Extension" as the tube train pulled away to reveal a Durex poster on the wall. 🤔
Turnpike Lane is quite a interesting and also very posh name for the tube station and the area itself in North London. I never been to Turnpike Lane myself. And with the Piccadilly Line 1972 tube stock that will be replaced by new tube trains in the next couple years. Very interesting insight to know about Turnpike Lane tube station and it’s history.
You didn't comment on the station building having two radically different sections; the square brick block and the curvey part which is more typical of the 1930s.
Turnpike Lane is not a bad station. Have you done Hornsey Station yet? We used to live around there and Turnpike Lane was the nearest tube, but you normally took the train to Finsbury Park or into Kings Cross.
As Mark Knopfler once sang: Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane You spiked my arm But you missed the vein Now it's all gone But the scars remain Junkie doll, I was stuck on you My junkie doll (On an excellent album by the way - sailing to Philadelphia!) Great video as ever - looks like a fine station to me
It looks as grotty now as it did back in the early nineties. Spent my first 9 months living in that part of London. Surprising how little is has changed.
As a one time regular user I highly rated this station and the attached bus station. I certainly think the more recent external changes were sympathetically done and in keeping with the original deign but with more modern materials. All in all one of my favourite stations
It seems interesting that the Piccadilly from Zone 3 to Kings Cross or the West End seems a quicker journey than the Northern Line from the edge of Zone 3 to Bank or Kings Cross
I’d played basketball a bunch of times at the courts at ducketts common and never took the train. I lived in Camden town so I always took the bus to finsbury park to play and if there were no games there I’d walk across the park and catch a bus on green lanes down to ducketts common. I’m sure there was a more efficient way to get there but at the time I found the buses easier to navigate.
I love how the only picture of Charles Holden looks like a Renaissance painting. "UERL's stations were designed by their house architect, Leonardo da Vinci, who had first envisioned underground railways as a young man and built a working scale model out of wood during his seond Florentine period, circa 1502. He ultimately received the contract for the Jubilee Line extension to Thamesmead, but as was his habit, he never completed it."
We spoke to people living along the route, disappointed with the delay, first a young woman called Mona Lisa . . . .
A station I have much experience with. It is a nice station to use, certainly airy at platform level with the bus station being a big bonus. The one issue (linking back to its lack of accsesability) is that it can get quite crowded at the bottom of the escalators at peak time. One of my favourite parts of the station though is the benches tucked in by the wall to the right of the gate line, a great little place to wait.
Far too many years ago I was born about half a mile away from Turnpike Lane station, so much of my childhood was spent around the station. The booking hall was dominated by a centrally located ticket office, a vaguely oval shaped building, surrounded by those tall ticket machines which were installed all over the underground.
The wide start of Turnpike Lane, between Ducketts Common and the Wellington pub, now a Costa, were two island bus stops accessed from the tube station used for passengers travelling to and from the Alexandra Park area. They were very narrow islands and would be far too dangerous for todays traffic. However they were good sites for 'penny for the guy'.
If memory serves me correctly, the bus station was more like a garage, with an all encompassing roof and huge doors which were closed when the buses were not running.
Great childhood memories and starting point for days with a Red Rover ticket.
I was brought up just round the corner in Westbury Avenue in the late 60's/early 70's. On cold days we would play "catch". We'd split into two teams at Turnpike Lane and buy the cheapest tickets. The first team would get on a train and the second team would get on the next train and try to find the first team. Every time someone says "Turnpike Lane" I recall the warm rush of air and that unique "Tube tunnel" smell!
You said everything I wanted to say. I grew up in the Wood Green area in the 50's and onwards and recall getting a good return on a 'penny for the guy' trips to Turnpike Lane Stn ... my spot was at the top of the left hand staircase at the exit ( facing the junction). As a kid I was fascinated by the number of travellers going to the island stops getting their buses to Alexandra Park and the 217 to Upshire and 231 to Forty Hill. Great memories.
A very handsome building looking a little tired. Hopefully one day, as a relatively unmodified survivor, the station will receive a sympathetic refurbishment.
Just what I was thinking, but a great many of the outlying stations are in sore need of renovation. Sadly, however, the standard of refurbishment these days is so low and doesn't look good for very long.
yes - give it a modern sheen but retain the basics
agree that cosmetic work would go some way to reviving the tired looking passage and entrance. any ideas about disability access, like roofed or overhang re-builds . I do like that the booking hall has been designed to fit the entrance hall, but that's just me
When I first moved to London, I lived on Harringay Ladder; so TPL was my 'first' Tube station as it were. And I did like it. It had a real 'London' vibe to me.
Although it's funny. My London friends said that when I moved there I'd use the Tube (or Underground as they advised me non tourists called it) obsessively for a fortnight; then I'd never use it again. That wasn't quite true but as my London geography and familiarity improved I did find my self just walking (or in emergencies using the bus) pretty much all the time. I was studying at Highbury Fields and I used really enjoy just walking back home via Finsbury Park (the actual park). When I moved more central (Hoxton) I just walked pretty much everywhere.
I still though enjoyed the whole London Transport aesthetic. I love all the architecture; but TFL also do seem to still have a pretty quirky arty side. I've been really impressed with even their modern projects. They really manage to combine form follows function; but also produce spectacular things to look at.
Long may it continue.
I've always loved the Tube,or Underground if you like,but I know what you mean,it's funny how it gets taken for granted after a time when it's on your doorstep. I attended a week-long business course for my company in November 1987,staying at a hotel in Southampton Row. There were attendees from various regional offices round the country on it,from the West Country to Brum to Liverpool to Aberdeen to one young lady from Belfast. In the evenings we'd go out together in one or two or three groups to different things; a little nightclubbing at places like the Hippodrome and a few of us went to see the stage performance of 'Allo Allo,with Gordon Kaye and other members of the familiar cast appearing,although the critics were not kind: "not suitable for adults or children," opined one sniffily. We got well-oiled at a pub,opposite a small park,called the Rising Sun or something similar to that,which offered an oft-changing range of real ales and guest beers; there was one ale which I didn't get round to try,called King of something,that was so strong it had those who imbibed it singing and dancing out in the street,and I still remember the big young Aberdonian chap declaring "it knocked my socks off" in his strong Scottish accent. But when the ones of us who lived in London and the South East said we didn't actually use the London Underground very often (not for not wanting to) in our busy lives,the outgoing young guy from Newcastle,who was a lot of fun,couldn't believe it,saying: "If I lived down here I'd be on it all the time."
@@rjjcms1 I loved living in London; and I am now very much a 'Londonist'. I try to get back up there as often as possible. But it is funny.
I know all sorts of obscure London facts and bits of trivia, and the practicalities, like bus routes and nice pubs. And I do all the Geoff Marshall stuff like how to save 5p travelling from Leicester Square to Covent Garden by changing at Nairobi.
But when I'd have friends coming down, especially with their kids, I'd have to wrack my brains as to where Buckingham Palace is. I watched the Millennium Wheel being built; and I walked past it several times a week. But I didn't actually go on it until about 2005 when I had some friends in town.
I made a point of visiting this station when I was in London in 2017, as Turnpike Lane was the subject of a OO layout that was exhibited regularly at various model rail shows in and around my native Brisbane. The layout is a vertical cross section featuring a streetscape, concourse and platform with working OO tube trains passing through regularly. Sadly, the station depicted does not match up with the real station at all, but the whole effect is still worth the viewing.
I used to catch the 41 bus every day to Turnpike Lane until 1970 when I left school.
I don't use it at all now as I moved to Aus in 1972.
Until 1968 it or Manor house was the tube station of choice but then the Victoria line owned so walking distance to Sevensisters.
Sadly the Cockfosters extention sounded the death knell of the ex GE Branchline from palace Gates to Sevensisters.
After 1932 passenger traffic dwindled away and the line took on almost a rural aire about it until final closure on 7th Jan 1963
What would Sir John Betjman have said??
All gone,,,,,ALL GONE.
I lived on Carlingford Rd as a kid, this was a huge part of my life before the next stage of my evolution!
Lived & grew up down the road in Tottenham. Never appreciated the beauty of Charles Holden's architecture until a few years ago. An age thing I guess. I was lucky to have Seven Sisters, Manor House & Turnpike Lane stations so near to where I lived. This station was so handy for the bus station next to it too. Fond memories & thanks as always for sharing. 👍🏻👍🏻
Manor House Station is looking very tired these days.
I used to live in Brixton and work in Palmers Green, and I would get off the tube at Turnpike Lane mostly because it had a nice WC outside in a separate building, which as an American I found very rare in London. Then a bus ride to work. Thinking back, this was also a more airy feeling station. I was focused on the bathroom, but I might still have done this had that not been the main issue. Thanks for these videos from a former Londoner in Kansas City.
The bathroom/ WC is still there and in use....
The Piccadilly Line is one of my favourite lines with part of the reasons being a large of majority of stations designed by the very creative architect Charles Holden. 3:48 But I would say that for me, Southgate is my favourite station designed by him because the UFO lookalike is very special and also looks very beautiful at night, hence why I visited the station last week and got great photos. I also watched your Cockfosters documentary video just 30 minutes before finding this video lol
Dammit Jago! i can't think of a better way to describe that interior than very pleasing to look at. For all of its modernity it feels warm visually and comfortably rooted in the past. Something about the tile color, the green decorations, the slightly over the top grilles all seem like call backs to different times. But what the hell do i know?!? i know i like that station!
p.s. The abandoned accumulators of London, i'm in !:-)
💜🙏⚡️
Early in the morning the trains don't come that often and it can leave you tempted to go back out and try and get lucky with a 29 to Finsbury park, but yeah great station the locals are blessed to have, this is probably my most used train station ever.
I do like a nice uplighter. Several here to enjoy.
I think I've only used the station once in my early 20s so nice to know its still more or less as I (vaguely) remember it. (it was at night, I was going to a party - cant remember if I went back the same way so the party must have been good).
My favourite London Underground stations are those designed by Charles Holden, not just the station buildings, but also the wall tiling at platform level.
I first visited Turnpike Lane in the early 1950’s when we visited my grandmother. In the 1960’s I used to travel through the old tram stops on either the 217 or 231 bus to/from school. Have always liked the Charles Holden designed stations at this end of the line. During the war my mother occasionally took shelter at the station but said it wasn’t something she enjoyed. Lovely video, thank you.
Both those busses still run today. Alongside 144 and 444
This station has a special place in my memory. As a recently arrived student in London, I recall going to see a film at the ABC ( ? ). The film's title was " Some People " and on the theatre's facade, they had an enormous advert for the film. It was a waist-down shot of a youth wearing jeans and trailing a guitar behind him. Iconic! From time to time I relisten to the theme song on UA-cam by Valerie Mountain, magic days!
yes, I recall the same confusion about part of the Odeon chain being purchased by ABC Cinemas, and not knowing who they were
One part of UERL, the District Railway, used government money to buy the 1920 built “F”stock, known as “Dreadnoughts”, or “Tanks”, which lasted to 1962, or so. Magnificent all steel trains with Oval windows at the end of each carriage, including the driving cab.
I travelled on those trains on the East London Line from Whitechapel up to Shoreditch with my dad to go to Club Row market. Those oval windows made them seem ancient.
I wish they had preserved at least one F stock car.
Another fascinating video Jago. Really enjoying the content on your channel.
It's interesting that Turnpike Lane has not changed substantially. Do you ever wonder what integrated transport will look like in the future? Perhaps the trams might make a return, replacing the cars in the city under green schemes?
I often think the Central line should run all the way to Ongar again and get better integration with services from Chelmsford. I am sure there are other areas which could similarity benefit.
4:11 - Admiring the Art Deco architecture when I noticed some idiot has actually climbed on the roof to deface the facade.
my grandparents used to live not too far from Turnpike Lane in Clarendon road.
they lived right next to the coke gas works.
i have vague memories of the large gas works gates and the cobbled street.
apparently my Granddad used to be a fire watcher from on top of one of the gasometers during the war.
Hilarious intro….a poster for Durex with “Cock”fosters then snuck in. Snigger, chortle, guffaw 😂. Great video as ever though 😁👍.
I feel like a time traveler, having travelled back to the 1970s when I lived near Turnpike Lane and used it every day for 5 years or so before I went south to Manor house for 20 years. Back then I never thought of it as user friendly I just took it for granted but on reflection its multiple entry and exit points worked very well. As did the wide platforms. I also admired the lighting stands.
Would it be too much to ask for TfL to give the place a fresh lick of paint and some TLC? It really grinds my gears to see these amazing stations seemingly left to rot. Where’s the investment in maintaining them?
TFL don't have the funding from the Government
@@heidirabenau511 I find that hard to believe given the recent bail outs. This was happening pre-pandemic too. TfL still operate as a business to generate profit.
@@heidirabenau511 Why should ths UK taxpayer pick up the tab?
I think you're being a little unfair to TfL, generally they are quite good at maintaining their heritage, however, given their current funding crises it's not entirely surprising that what cash they do have, is more likely to be being prioritised to pay for new trains (NTFL) and the completion of the SSL resignalling. In the 80s the system was in a massively worse state aesthetically than it is now.
Because public transport give benefits to the wider community that cannot be paid for from the fair box.@@superted6960
I used Turnpike Lane station many many times over the years, but sadly not now because of accessibility issues.
Can't say I thought it "perfect" but it's a very convenient well-laid-out place. The only downside I can think of is that the bus station is under-used because it's a nightmare for buses to manoeuvre the traffic jams around the crossroads so everyone gets off the bus a stop before and walks the last bit because it's quicker.
I remember reading something years back that all the spoil from digging the tunnels came out at Turnpike Lane and was promptly carted off to make bricks.
All this disability access is used as an excuse to rip the soul out of old buildings, I spent several months (term and a half) in a wheelchair during my final (6th) year at school, had to be carted up and down the stairs at school by a couple of rugby playing prefects (one put me in the chair in the first place). Both stations used to get to school had stairs and a footbridge or subway, one a very long staircase outside as was atop a 40ft high embankment, Two burly station staff carried me and the chair up and down them and pushed me onto and off the train (baggage car). Never a problem apart from the solo mile and a half pushing myself home from the station in pouring rain. Bloody glad when I could get back on the Motorbike to and from school (crutches strapped along the side).
@@tonys1636 not everyone is disabled temporarily. disabled people can't count on strangers carrying them. why did you even bother commenting?
@@anarcho-pingu He was just giving his opinion. No need to be so rude. Disabled people always have the option of taking the bus anyway so I don't want to hear anymore complains.
This is my local station. I quite like how it feels like you're outside even when you're underground. The high ceilings, cool air, fake lamp-posts, and natural light all work together quite well.
I was brought up in Wood Green in the 50's and onwards but moved away to Norwich in the 70's. On my return visits to the area the colour of the repointed parts of the brickwork of Turnpike Lane Stn always TRIGGERS me big time whenever I see the building. Couldn't a more sympathetic shade have been used to blend in!!!!! Grrrr.
Really love these videos focusing on individual underground stations, particularly those on the Piccadilly Line. Found memories of changing at Turnpike Lane and getting the bus back to Enfield.
A lovely, clean Holden/Pick design of classic style, but rather spoiled by TFLs messy additions. The lower landing and escalator lights look like they've been cobbled together from bits of MDF, and then there's the ugly and obtrusive trunking for the ubiquitous CCTV cameras. The plus points are many. Particularly love the tiling, uplighters, and those gorgeous bronze Japanese woodcut style ventilation grilles.
But as others have said here, the whole place needs some tlc and fresh paint, particularly where concrete has begun to bloom and spall. It surely wouldn't take much to make it look it's best.
It's a good station. But unfortunately a proposed station further south at St Ann's Road was never built, which would be
a) closer to my flat; and
b) useful for the local centre on Green Lanes, a vibrant but congested local high street which is directly above a long gap between tube stations
Apparently they were considering a station between Manor House and Turnpike Lane, but this was vetoed by Pick as it didn't fit with his idea of bus/tube integration. The bus/tram route just ran parallel to the tube, so there was no obvious benefit from interchange there. So the station was placed where the next bus route crossed - Turnpike Lane. It's an interesting question what's best. Short gaps between stations (eg. original tube lines, Jubilee Line Extension) or longer (Central Line extensions, Victoria Line, Crossrail). I can see both sides of the argument.
From Finsbury Park: forgetting Manor House and cutting straight through (under) the park to a St Ann’s Road Station, and keeping Turnpike Lane would have been an interesting (and probably faster) idea IMO.
But then again it would have left Hackney even more cut off
@@djmurray6152 They considered doing that when the Victoria line was being built - the Piccadilly line would bypass Manor House but the Victoria line would incorporate it instead - which would have left Hackney no more cut off before, but in the end they abandoned the idea because it seemed like too much effort. One result is the very long gap between Finsbury Park and Seven Sisters. IMO a station at St Anne's Road would be unreasonably close to Turnpike Lane, but one at Harringay Green Lanes would improve interchange with the Gospel Oak line.
Funny to hear the tiling colour described as 'warm biscuit', it always reminds me of Barnack stone.
That Wall Ad as you say Cockfosters Extension, Come on Jago , less innuedo. " Up the Piccadilly Line to Turnpike Lane" I feel is some kind of Marie Lloyd music hall song
I love Turnpike Lane, and it's very convenient for all the Turkish restaurants, bakeries and stores along Green Lanes.
Turnpike Lane was my home station when I moved to London. There was an Irish guy who worked in the ticket booth who used to ask me things like 'Do you believe in fate' which would lead to a decent conversation (I didn't, he did). I always appreciated the interesting question that differed from 'What did you get up to at the weekend!'. I don't use the tube station any more as I am further up the line but I do use the tunnel to cross over from Westbury Avenue to Turnpike Lane when I am walking up towards Hornsey instead of walking down the road a bit.
First place I lived when I moved to London.
I commuted from here , to Chiswick, everyday for about 2 years. The insanity of youth.
I've even got a scar on my arm from getting impaled on a spike trying to climb the fence into Ducketts Green
Great memories.
Thanks for the video.
My local 184 bus service runs from Barnet to TL. Last summer, just to see the full route my wife & I made the whole journey. Like so many London bus services, it does meander a bit along the way. We made our return journey on the Piccadilly line to Oakwood - couldn't face doing the bus trip in reverse !! 😎😱
I grew up in Wood Green and used Turnpike Lane tube station regularly in the 60s and 70s but I am sure it had two more island entrances/exits, primarily for bus use, opposite the entrance next to Ducketts Common.
I remember still being able to tell where the tunnels were that had been filled in and tiled over.
Never did find out why these were done away with but it must have been in the early 1960s, so a mystery to be solved.
There also used to be a green wooden hut on that corner of Ducketts Common which did a lovely cuppa and cheese roll.
Those islands would have disappeared shortly after the trolleybuses (successors to the original trams) were taken out of service in 1962. They created too much congestion, and the petrol/diesel buses were able to be a lot more flexible about where they stopped to allow passengers on and off..
I remember that tea stall! I think the colour varied over the years; seem to remember the outside of it being orange for a time. Only bought stuff from it once or twice, but I always liked to see it and know it was there. Another bit of individual old London gone ...
I used to live in Enfield and regularly travelled to Wood Green and Hornsey by 629 trolleybus or 231 bus in the 50s & 60s. I recall the islands being there through the bulk of the 60s. Trolley buses did not go pass the islands along Turnpike Lane, only along Green Lanes. Wikipedia reports the islands were removed in 1968. My recollections of Turnpike Lane tube station is that the ticket hall was rather dingy - I suspect the windows were not cleaned that often. The new Elizabeth Line central London stations are far airier and lighter than any existing TfL underground stations.
@@Krzyszczynski Thank you for this.
Yes I was about 12 when the islands stopped being used so 1962 is right.
I also remember in its later years the green tea hut was repainted several times.
My Mum had a friend who lived in a ladders house facing Ducketts Common and we thought she was rich and posh...we lived in the Noel Park Estate almost next to the Goods Yard.
Wood Green is so different now.
@@BrainW33a The islands stayed in place for some years after they stopped being used.
I remember get a bus from there to Ally Pally a No 41 I think and I remember the trolleybuses turning round at Spouters Corner.
Live half a mile away, it’s the crossroads for the whole area and sets the tone for lots of buildings nearby. Underground it’s the most sanely laid out of those I know, above ground it’s a perfect combination of form and function. Big fan, ta for the background
(a) The subway entrance to the station on an island between the carriageways of Turnpike Lane, across Green Lanes from the station building, has been mentioned by others in these comments. It was of great value in the tram era; the trams ran on tracks close to the middle of the road (effectively spitting the road into two carriageways). Trams were symmetrical, so passengers could alight on the right to alight directly to the subway without having to half-cross the busy Turnpike Lane. Other vehicles could pass the trams on their left.
(b) Next door to the station was the ABC Cinema, built to match the style of the station buildings.
This is easily one of my favourite videos of yours. I had no real knowledge of Turnpike Lane''s history before, and this has told me so much! I regularly travel through Turnpike Lane, so now I have anticipation for the next time I do.
never heard 'Turnpike Lane' and 'perfect' be used in the same sentence before
Again, another station I have known since childhood. When the Cockfosters extension was in the planning stage, this station was to have been called Wood Green, situated as it is at the south end of Wood Green High Road, and the next station north was to have been called Lordship Lane. Then it dawned on someone that there was already a Lordship Lane station on the Crystal Palace High Level branch in south-east London and heaven forbid that Londoners should forget which side of the river they were on if there were two stations in London with the same name. So, before opening, the proposed Lordship Lane Piccadilly Line station was quickly renamed Wood Green which meant another name had to be found for the station originally to have been so named and thus it became Turnpike Lane. Any Londoners that might have been confused, had the original name proposed for Wood Green been given, would only have been so for 22 years for in 1954 the Crystal Palace High Level branch was abandoned and the actual Lordship Lane station demolished. A short piece of embankment on the north side of Lordship Lane, where that thoroughfare was crossed by a bridge, also now demolished, is still visible but a large housing estate now stands where the station once did. Kind regards, David, Crouch End, N8
The Percival Mandeville of the Tube.
Wow.. another of your little talks that had me thinking an underground station I, as a tourist, am never likely to visit. Then you showed that little side entrance, and I was swept back to the mid-noughties and realised I have been there, several times. My other half is a massive Eurovision nerd and there was a small Turkish (I think) owned music shop somewhere near there (I want to say the High Street, all I can really remember is that it was a long and boring walk from the underground, and only got better when a retail park opposite had a bit of a makeover and a Costa coffee opened up so I could sit and read a book while he had his orgasm over some album of foreign music by someone who competed in 1986).. needless to say, he was relenting recently that the shop is no longer there, so I will probably never have a reason to head that way again. But thank you for bringing back the memory 🙂
Only passed through this station, will have to visit it someday.
Turnpike Lane is rather dear to me for very sentimental reasons. My dad had a studio flat in Sydney Road on the opposite side of the green to the station so I used it an awful lot, both in terms of visiting my father and also it was the starting point of many fabulous adventures. Generally, we used the tube station only when going to watch Charlton and were running a bit late, otherwise we mostly used the bus station. The 41 would take you up towards Tottenham Hale one way or to interchange north of Hornsey with either the 14 to get to the museums in South Kensington or the 84 to St Albans. The144 took us to Ilford from which we get another bus to Barking and the train back where I lived with my mum. The 29 took you straight into Central London and the 298 went north towards Cockfosters and a park the name of which escapes me now 🤷🏻♂️
I also remember the cinema that was next door as among other things, I saw Jaws II there 🦈
It is a beautifully designed station and I always loved going to it as it felt like a majorly important one. The road layout has completely changed and I do miss the old overall roof. It gave it almost min-cathedral like character which seems to have been lost with its demise. I loved the echoing noise it generated as the buses came and went. Funnily enough though, the most important thing was nothing to do with tubes or buses. It had a continental (i.e. at the time rather exotic) restaurant called (I think)The Chariot. It was run by Cypriots and offered varied Mediterranean cuisine. It was where I learnt what really nice food tastes like. The words ‘moussaka’, ‘cannelloni’ and ‘calamaris’ were not those normally found in an 8 year old working class white kid, certainly not in a Thurrock dive, where the other kids accused me of making the names of these things up…I think it was about his time I started to realise I hated children even if I was one myself 🙄
Funnily enough, over the years I have got talking to many Cypriots of a certain age who lived around that area and were students or whatever, and inevitably when I find out they lived in North London ‘near Wood Green’ I always say “Do you remember the restaurant in Turnpike Lane, The Chariot?” And the answer is always “Oh yes, I knew the people that owned it.” 🤣😂😅
One last thing: I regrettably don’t have a great many pictures of my dad, which seems so strange in a world where people are self obsessed selfie-takers, where concerts and events are (for me) often ruined by people insisting on videoing things that they will in all likelihood never playback anyway, and every other person thinks they are a photographer. I have no footage of him and s@sly I think my mother in one of her voodoo rages destroyed some of them. However, I do have a few precious pictures we took in the phone booth that was situated just inside the entrance of the station and they are utterly priceless to me. So if nothing else, this is a lovely memory of Turnpike Lane 💜
Cheers old boy. Certainly stirred up a few memories 🍻👍🍀
Memories of Turnpike Lane: In the late 50's my future first wife lived just round the corner from the tube station, and I would pop into it after leaving her following an evening at Alexandra Palace roller skating rink, to get a sixpenny Fry's chocolate bar from one of the coin operated machines there. After boarding the bus to take me home to Ponders End, I would sit upstairs in the bus and suck a single square of chocolate slowly, making each one last for two bus stops so that it would not be fully consumed until I got to the Southbury Road bus garage. Later I would bring her back from skating on my brother's 500 cc Matchless motorbike - he joined the RAF - and she was pretty enough for the police officer who once stopped us for speeding to let me off with a caution despite having no L plates. Luckily he didn't ask for insurance details as I didn't have that either, and I think the tax had expired as well!
I think the shopping parade along Green Lanes was built in the same style.I bought my first proper camera from a photographic shop along there in the early 1960s,an Ilford Sportsman.Happy days!.
Very informative opening shot. And apt.😁
Yes I thoroughly enjoyed your micro - managed tale from the tube, as you introduced me to Turnpike Lane Station. I am also happy to give you a like,
another jolly thumbs up in appreciation. And fully well knowing that in my doing so, I haven't purchased, for my wife, another troublesome overused
washing machine, with a coat of aerosol paint to hide the rust. As always, I love your stuff dear Jago, across the briny ocean! Bravo Jago!
Another most interesting gem, thank you Jago, Betjeman, Hazzard!
As always, very enjoyable.
Thank you 😊.
Reminds me a little bit of Gants Hill station the inside not the outside for obvious reasons.
I used to travel on that line when I was working in North London I often jumped off and went to Wood green shopping centre.
As always a great video Jago
Yasss! I recently moved into the area and am using it for commuting every day - I actually was thinking the other day 'oh I need to see if Jago has made a video on Turnpike Lane'. The lamps and the ventilation decoration really picked my interest, as well as the mould on the ceilings haha. It's a pretty tired looking station, I feel like it'd shine a lot more if it was restored a little bit.
"Good job architects" Not often that we hear that phrase!
It's a long way to Manor House, there should be a station in between. Perhaps at the western end of St. Ann's Road - very convenient for the Salisbury pub and a pint or two of IPA
Jon there was supposed to be one opposite the Salisbury. I think there's a maintenance access door to the line on Harringay Road. My mistake there's a large Ventilation building on Colina Rd at the end of Harringay Road.
@@devilsmenutv2621 What are the chances of me getting a free pint in the Salisbury - all this free advertising.
This was my local tube, fascinating info, thanks
There used to be a cinema to the right of the station, the renovated part where i would go to catch double features back in the early 80s. The last one I saw was Mad Max 2 with High Plains Drifter. To and from there I would jump on the 41 routemaster bus.
Interesting video and it was surprising to learn how important the design was in Piccadilly history. I worked there for a bit and it was always busy. If I had known more of the history it would have given me information to pass on to the passengers thus improving the respect of the station. 99% of the underground passengers are great and respect what we tried to undertake but the 1% gave us 50% of our problems. This is a personal view from my time at this dynamic wonderful station.
Great account - and how delicately you manoeuvred around the genesis of this project in the hands of UERL while avoiding any reference to the company's distinguished American progenitor. And yes, Frank Pick was apparently a chippy colleague to work with, or under. He even managed to fall out with Winston Churchill in 1940m
Churchill wasn't exactly easy to work with, either.
Pick was a bit mercurial, some said he was difficult to deal with, others said as long as you were totally honest with him, he was fine, and could be a good friend. I suppose all great men (and women, of course) have a chippy side.
Edit : Beck hated him, which says a lot about both men.
@@robertwilloughby8050 Who's Beck?
@@Desmaad Harry Beck, who designed the Tube map and made it simpler, clearer and the basis of most city rail transport maps worldwide.
@@Desmaad Harry Beck, who designed the Tube Map that we all know and love today.
I find the relationship between the audio and video of the opening scene so amusing. Tee hee.
Until around 12 years ago I lived in Edmonton & used Turnpike Lane regularly, taking the 444 bus to & from there to just outside my house. It is a very efficient & I think clean station, with few things to mark it down for.
great video
Another station that you made me want to visit!
4:20 Could do with the addition of "USS" to the name. And maybe a deflector dish.
May your week have all the happiness of an integrated transport system.
Sir,once again you have outdone yourself
As someone else has said, it looks a bit grubby in places...come on TFL,a lick of paint and some replastering will work wonders! Another quality vid though, Jago!
There was very clear signage above eye level before one came out giving tram directions to left and right. I so wish the trams would return to North London.
Great video Jago
In view of Mr Pick's influence, perhaps they should have called it TurnPick Lane...
I'm going here next time I travel on the tube.💓
Will you do a video on the unbuilt station between Manor House and Turnpike Lane?
There’s some major kebab action around that area. Thumbs up from me 👍👍
i do like the biscuit coloured tiles, that makes for an attractive station, as far as stations go
Yes there was a trolleybus stop, as a small boy we went to see a friend of my Mum's in Ponder's End. I remember the bus being large and not the usual bus. Of course it was the 649 trolleybus.
Err; just wondering if you were trying to infer something at the beginning Jago? Talking about the "Cockfoster's Extension" as the tube train pulled away to reveal a Durex poster on the wall. 🤔
Good one Jago 👍
Turnpike Lane is quite a interesting and also very posh name for the tube station and the area itself in North London. I never been to Turnpike Lane myself.
And with the Piccadilly Line 1972 tube stock that will be replaced by new tube trains in the next couple years. Very interesting insight to know about Turnpike Lane tube station and it’s history.
So funny I was at that station just two days ago for the first time and then I see this pop up
Always like your video's Jago
Clever openng!
Born and bred and still living here.
You didn't comment on the station building having two radically different sections; the square brick block and the curvey part which is more typical of the 1930s.
This would be a great flagship model if Lego started an Underground Stations series...
Turnpike Lane is not a bad station. Have you done Hornsey Station yet? We used to live around there and Turnpike Lane was the nearest tube, but you normally took the train to Finsbury Park or into Kings Cross.
Very good - I like some of the 1930's styles!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂
Would love to hear about the history of (London) Blackfriars! Thanks, always enjoy your videos
That is also the other terminus of the 121 bus ~ claimed to be the longest bus route in Enfield/north London?
As Mark Knopfler once sang:
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You spiked my arm
But you missed the vein
Now it's all gone
But the scars remain
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
(On an excellent album by the way - sailing to Philadelphia!)
Great video as ever - looks like a fine station to me
A station I’ve passed by and even caught busses from, but never actually traveled on the tube.
It looks as grotty now as it did back in the early nineties. Spent my first 9 months living in that part of London. Surprising how little is has changed.
As a one time regular user I highly rated this station and the attached bus station. I certainly think the more recent external changes were sympathetically done and in keeping with the original deign but with more modern materials. All in all one of my favourite stations
was there a camera shop in one of those units around the station/ bus station ?
It seems interesting that the Piccadilly from Zone 3 to Kings Cross or the West End seems a quicker journey than the Northern Line from the edge of Zone 3 to Bank or Kings Cross
It was my local station in 1974.
The blue "Way Out" sign has a hint of Frank Lloyd Wright to my eye.
Please do Manor House - I have SOOOO many great memories! I'll give you a Curly Wurly!
I have the delight of having my office there. It is a good station to use but as many have pointed out, does look a little tired now.
I’d played basketball a bunch of times at the courts at ducketts common and never took the train. I lived in Camden town so I always took the bus to finsbury park to play and if there were no games there I’d walk across the park and catch a bus on green lanes down to ducketts common. I’m sure there was a more efficient way to get there but at the time I found the buses easier to navigate.