By STEPHEN MOORE
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
2:35 PM
Wood Green Tube station has become one of Haringey’s most important heritage buildings, given Grade II listed status this week on the advice of English Heritage.
The building, on the corner of Lordship Lane and High Road, Wood Green, dates from 1932 and is one of a series “regarded as classics of Modernist design” despite losing many original features.
On Tuesday (July 26) heritage minister John Penrose gave the building protected status alongside 15 other stations, heralding the capital’s “hidden heritage” and the “forward thinking” of its distinguished architect Charles Holden.
He said: “Millions of people pass through London’s Underground system every day, with little thought for the historic design and architectural features that are right under their nose as they hurry underground to catch their trains.”
He added: “Although listing does not mean these stations will remain unchanged for all time, it does mean that any redevelopment plans will have to take the sites’ heritage value into account, which seems entirely right and will ensure the best of design is preserved for the future.”
Simon Thurley, chief executive of conservation body English Heritage, said the newly-listed stations were “as valuable” to London’s architectural story as the Houses of Parliament.
The English Heritage report reveals the station originally featured a canteen and a public art gallery, later converted to a staff club room, and praises its “elegant curved facade and entrance canopy”.
It adds that “the interior is regrettably altered but some special fittings remain,” including the booking hall’s original clock and, elsewhere, timber benches, bronze-framed ‘way out’ signs and bronze fire hydrant doors.
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