Published: July 29, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

THOUSNADS of commuters who use it every day probably don’t take a second glance at its façade, or its tiled interior passageways, but Caledonian Road Tube station has been listed by English Heritage.

It is the only station in Islington among 16 in London awarded Grade II-listed status this week.

The conservation body described the 105-year-old station (above) as having architectural interest because of its red tiled signage, original shopfront and the pomegranate frieze tiling inside, original examples of which are now rare, as well as the tiling on platform level.

It was built in 1906 by the Underground Electric Railways Co of London under controversial American financier Charles Yerkes who invested heavily in – and controlled – much of the early deep underground system, including the then Great Northern Piccadilly and Brompton Railway. It was designed by Leslie Green.

Harley Sherlock of the Islington Society welcomed the listing. “I’m very glad because Underground stations are under-appreciated. Some have lovely interior tiling on the platforms,” he said.