Hidden London Hangouts S3E9 - Holloway Road

[@mikemee748]

I used Holloway RD on most days in 1972-6 when I was a student at the old North London Polytechnic. I used to use the old Lift and remember the old Disc Roundels (some survive at Caledonian Rd and Covent Garden). In the 80s, Ian Allan (Railway Publisher) produced a basic guide book to LU station. I was lucky in the mid 80s to be given a tour of the basement of the station by the author of this book. Remember looking at the base of the spiral escalator. Tiling is original with just paint/plaster repairs to damaged tiles. I have many notes on the tiling patterns of the stations and was thinking about getting something published, but was beaten by David Laurence/Doug Rose etc. Any way, your series is excellent. Most join some tours after COVID.

[@highpath4776]

Have you found they have missed some things you noted. Its always interesting to compare those that adhere to the standards laid down, and those that diverged or changed.

[@marchampson006]

Holloway Road is the station ive used most going at one point every 6 weeks for 10 years. I call it 'Meeksville' when making my way to the Coronet past 304 Holloway Road where the independent record producer 'Joe Meek'(Telstar man) created all those wonderful RGM sounds back in the early 1960's. Another great video that im catching up with. Marc In Bletchley

[@ericadodd4735]

At the first opportunity I had to travel into London I went to visit Holloway Road station inspired by this episode. Not only did I see a brief glimpse of York road station as I went past with my head glued to the train window but was so in awe of such a wonderfully preserved station when I reached Holloway Road, and had a good chat to the lovely customer service guy about the station history. It was such a wonderful day out. Thanks HL4 for inspiring me!

[@jgodfrey546]

While it was great to learn more about the Underground & Ms Holloway's connection to this episode's subject, news of Nora's rescue made my day. Hats off to you, Mr Nix.

[@kevinreed9232]

Great episode as always. All four of you are lovely people with a great sense of humour. keep safe fantastic four.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Awww! Thank you!!!!

[@alisonjperry6291]

Missed this and the next episode live, but enjoying catching up. Brunel's tunnel? Definitely! The access shaft is now a performance space, and I have played there with a quartet from North London Brass for a performance of the biographical play of the Brunels, Eighth Wonder of the World.

[@samanthaelmhurst8518]

Shout Out to the Amazing Chris Nix for services to Feline Kind...well done rescuing Nora the NFC

[@chrisnix6352]

Thanks Samantha. So glad we found her and got her home. Nora is a lovely cat.

[@stigroo9058]

Hi everyone.. for once I’m early but by the time I get my coffee and settle in moquette corner will probably be just in time as usual😂

[@davestyx1642]

Hi everyone, thanks for this latest episode. I was feeling pretty low Friday and Saturday (I lost my dear wife in January) but switched on and watched you and you cheered me up! It was like having friends round for virtual tea! Great shot of Siddy outside Holloway tube station.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Dave I’m so terribly sorry to hear this. I know you found us while caring for her and we all admired your strength at an already tough time. All four of us send our sincere and heartfelt condolences - and I’m personally so glad we may have cheered you up a bit. Stick with us and we’ll get you through the bad days. Stay strong. Huge hugs from the HLH crew x

[@laurahilton3210]

Hi Dave. Thankyou for the message and glad that you enjoyed the episode! I echo everything that Alex said in his message and the 4 of us are sending you massive virtual hugs at this tough time x

[@davestyx1642]

@@alexgrundon2346 Many thanks Alex, as I said before you are all like friends.

[@davestyx1642]

@@laurahilton3210 Thanks for those hugs, that means a lot, just wish they could be for real!!

[@chrisnix6352]

Hi Dave. I’m sorry to hear of your loss. I’m glad you found us and I hope our weekly dose of nonsense continues to give some cheer. Good to have you aboard with us. Chris

[@unittaskforce]

I knew very little about Holloway Road so this was fascinating. Thanks very much to all the Hidden London team for bringing us another great episode.

[@daveharris7224]

Hi everyone, thanks for the continued entertainment. What has happened to the proposed upgrade to the station following the building of the newish Arsenal football stadium?

[@djdubls]

I couldn't agree more with your comment, Alex, about the tiles still being there after all those years being more interesting than the colours. Holloway Road and Caledonian Road stations were the most interesting of Leslie Green stations for me whilst in London because (at platform level) they had changed very little. Wish TFL would restore the tiling in the ticket hall and passageways at Caledonian Road, the 70s tiles are horrible.

[@kurtsblue6075]

Remember getting the first train from here after a night over the road at the "Rokit" good times.

[@johndaarteest]

Holloway Rd used to be my station when I lived there in the mid nineties. Didn't know about the double helix thingy till a few years ago.

[@marting4042]

The typeface used on the Skippers poster next to the entrance, as photographed in 1932, is such a modern sans serif (without serif) font that I couldn’t believe it was a 1930s picture. I looked it up, and yes, sure enough it’s from the 1930s.

[@MrAustinPowers]

Need to do a twinning hidden New York Subway to see how much of the tube reflected there subway system

[@LostFleet]

I wish there was a 3d model of the spiral escalator showing how it worked.

[@chrisnix6352]

I looked into making one 10years ago for the Museum’s school science programme but it would have been very complex and expensive to do. Even a digital model was too much to consider.

[@jacksugden8190]

I spent some 35 years using it, I saw the moving stair case, or what was left of it, caged off staircase and stairs from platform up to the unused Exit, negotiated the grills near the lifts and from the spiral stairs, seen every inch of that station, it’s a drafts bellow through from the outside into the ticket hall in the winter, it’s grade two listed. The reason for this station being close to the service was to reach the the then Metropolitan Railway platforms at Finsbury Park opened in 1904 from Moorgate Street. I know tones about Finsbury Park, Arsenal and it’s tunnels, rich in history.

[@alexgrundon2346]

This one’s getting read out. LOVE IT

[@jacksugden8190]

I wanted to mention so much more from the engineering side about Holloway Road station, and others, about the conversion processes when the Victoria Kine arrived, the work between Arsenal and Finsbury Park (Piccadilly), Drayton Park (British Rail), Euston (tube), such a delightful system when it works, Archway (Northern) its former lift shafts had a similar building that was not listed, demolished for the Archway Tower and the Northern line extension, the Northern Line building from Euston Road/King’s Cross station by York Way - long gone Northern Line.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Jack if you have any hints as to stations with visible evidence of the past - passages, lift shafts, witness marks etc, please DIRECT MESSAGE ME on Instagram ( @alexgrundon ) and point us in the right direction. Archway is a station I used for years - but I wonder if there is enough for an episode? Be good to hear from you. You get a shout-out this weekend too on the episode!

[@jacksugden8190]

@@alexgrundon2346- Hi Alex, two years on just seen this, only place I would love to see would be at Camden Town. Lots of hidden doors on those platforms. Sorry did not use social media. I know of someone called Lofty Holloway, no relation to the lovely Siddy. Best regards from Jack.

[@JamesThePlonker]

Your neighbourhood plonker here back with another and I think interesting question, if you had the option to revert an underground line to terminate at its original destination or revert it routing back to its original alignment what line would you choose and why

[@alexgrundon2346]

Need to think about that one

[@laurahilton3210]

Hmmm I’m thinking too.....

[@sbsg3880]

Always think of Holloway as a woman's prison" well she could have chosen, Wormwood-Scrubs and make it double barrelled to get even more attention.

[@OLDBOYSTEAMING]

Hi London Underground where the first to use Fluorescent lighting and it was on the underground trains........Pete.

[@TrainDriver1953]

Is kennington loop run under kennington park as it is the only open space near there ?

[@guyavni8834]

I thought the Victoria Cross was the highest award for valour, but I was wrong. It's the Golden pussy award :) But jokes aside, It's amazing how you found and rescued Nora.

[@alexgrundon2346]

It’s as good as a Queen’s Honour. Golden Pussy all the way.

[@jamesbalchin4640]

Love to have a copy of that poster

[@stephbowden8850]

I worked here in the 90's.

[@hungbearlover]

Or Tunnel Fluffers

[@alexgrundon2346]

Tunnel Grubbers always makes me laugh!

[@jamesbalchin4640]

My local station Holloway road 1981--date

[@stephbowden8850]

Brownish bronze.

[@geoffreymartin2764]

A spiral staircase on steroids. 🏳‍🌈

[@peebee143]

I suggested Sid's Cafe would work as a name for a moderately priced eatery. Get it sorted!

[@peebee143]

Well, wasn't that just mental? Not laughed so much before on one of these episodes. We need to sort a social event after Covid lifts. Let's get to meet one another! Alex, bound to see you on Fbook with other rail stories, catch up soon!

[@alexgrundon2346]

Nice work, Peebee!