Sloane Square | Hidden London Hangouts (S08E02)

In this episode the team go behind the scenes at a station that has been rebuilt many times including after a direct hit from a bomb in the Second World War. Chris and Siddy unlock a river in a cupboard for Alex and Laura enjoys the classic artwork used to promote the station.
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[@kylesw555]

"There's a closet" Alex: "It's been a while" The man never fails to make me laugh, every single episode! 😂

[@alexgrundon2346]

😘

[@dalecousins7373]

@@alexgrundon2346 the picture where you said that the escalator looks like a travelator because it looks like its smooth is because it was moving when the photo was taken and that photo would have taken time to capture the image, you can also see a train came in and out of the platform while the photo was taken if you look closely at the picture.

[@alexgrundon2346]

See! All my experts assembled to get us the answers! Thank you all so much

[@aaronjamesf1]

The man's an absolute legend and a really nice bloke too

[@tobiaswoodcock]

2nd best comment " a quick one wouldn't be a quick one..." LHB 🤣

[@richardrackham9364]

The 1940 shot is a long exposure (where the camera shutter is open for a long time). The lights streaking across the image are from a train that moved through the shot and the reason that the escalator looks like a travelator is because the shutter was open long enough to make the treads blend together. It is also, probably, why there aren't people in the frame. They probably didn't stand still long enough to make an impression on the film.

[@chunkyboyjames]

Ah, there I am in the background, giving directions and assistance to everyone! I remember the recording of this episode well! Right at the end of August!

[@alexgrundon2346]

❤❤

[@MrStevetmq]

At 44:45 the photo shows escalators that as you say appear smooth like a travelator. This is because the photo is a long exposer time. So and moving object will be blurred. I think there must have been a train leaving. Look at the light streaks on the right hand side like a gost of a moving object. I will take a bet that the exposure time was something like 1 min.

[@Kestrel029]

That diverted river is certainly something fascinating

[@starpoint271]

The water you looked at is just the drainage for the station and track, that's then pumped up to the river box above. The river Westbourne has been a sewer since 1870's, you would certainly smell it if that was it in the cupboard. Also the sewer flow is millions of litres, not that comparatively small pipe.

[@DesiroDriver]

40:30 notice how one of the conductor rails are nearest most to the platform edge on both lines! ⚡️ You wouldn’t see that today!

[@kangaroogroundboy]

Long exposure blurred treads....you can see a train went through

[@LadyInTrilby]

Old trick to get rid of people in a crowded place. Photo manipulation before PhotoShop...

[@NapierNimbus]

Excellent production and most interesting including the historic photos.

[@kelvinhill9874]

Thanks for reading my comment from the previous video. That made my day.

[@jumpingjeffflash9946]

I'll be in London in about 4 weeks (from USA) such a cool city w/rich history and nice people. I enjoy it there.

[@keithlambell1970]

It's really wonderful to see people so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subject 🙂

[@naomi-allisonsloane3008]

Can’t wait for this one ...

[@chrisblay]

A lot of history there. The old photos and adverts are intriguing.

[@OofusTwillip]

This station is mentioned in the Nightmare Song in Gilbert & Sullivan's "Iolanthe": "They're a ravenous horde, and they all came onboard at Sloane Square and South Kensington stations."

[@melvincain5012]

Siddy's going all cockney at 8mins "I'nnit?"

[@luxford60]

Fascinating. Like most people, I suspect, I had always assumed that the river culvert at Sloane Square was at the natural level of the stream.

[@tardismole]

51:16 This is my all-time favourite Chelsea Flower Show poster. We had a stand there for many years and one year I even got to join my father taking the flowers up from the gardens to the show to set them up. It was a huge adventure, for a very young me.

[@timothyp8947]

I thought the first of the two flower show posters was quite something - and when it turned out to be 1939 I was very surprised - it felt much more modern than that and if I’d been asked to guess, I might’ve thought '80s. Great show - thanks team!

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

I live the blue tiles in the entrance areas, and on the platform. And I also love the pristine (clean) shine of the white tiles on the way down (18:35-19:18).

[@ForTheBirbs]

What a blast of an episode. So many responses I can't write here.... so just one. Coming out of the water closet? Cheer, Jim

[@alexgrundon2346]

Lol it’ll get worse before it gets better 😂

[@pauldavis4072]

So much to take in. Remarkable that those pumps can cope with the river flow 24/7, even when there's been heavy rain. I trust the shaft you were peering down has never filled with water and flooded the station! Another 5 star episode. Thanks

[@awatts8980]

John Lewis owns peter jones. Another lovely post, thank you

[@davidashwood8174]

In the early 80's Bedford College (Regents Park) and others used to hold Circle Line parties, making good use of the station bar on various stop offs in the evening involved, eventually staggering out with the last service.

[@skyrules2007]

Watched both last weeks and this weeks episodes this weekend; great to have you back, and covering two stations in a part of town I’m familiar with, as it’s this part of London that we normally stay in or near.

[@adrianpeaty9078]

Always remember staying in London many years ago at a hotel (can't remember it's name) on Sloane St. Got off at Sloane Square station to find out it was right at the other end, (nearer Knightsbridge) and it was a long walk!

[@TheClockwise770]

Another excellent video everyone especially the river part and those gorgeous old photos. Sloane square has particularly fond memories for me as I worked at Peter Jones. The clock at the top of the stairs would have been a slave clock, meaning that it was controlled by a master clock somewhere on the Underground and would have received half minute impulses from that to drive the hands.

[@supahas3821]

It's great to see these episodes back again, even greater to hear the one-liners served alongside it

[@martynthomas7486]

Another great video chaps! I was lucky to attend your Hidden Hangout Live at the LTM a few months back and wondered if any more were in the offing? Still, I'm very much looking forward to the continuing saga of Series 8 and hoping for stations like Waterloo or the tube side of things at Paddington as they both must have hidden warrens even the cleverest rabbits would get lost in!

[@alexgrundon2346]

Thank you so much for coming to the theatre Live episode. Elizabeth the museum boss is keen for us to do more so watch this space. X

[@martynthomas7486]

Thanks Alex, as Shaw Taylor used to say I'll keep em peeled.....

[@paulwheeler4283]

Alex you never cease to amaze me with your one liner's and thank you so much for another brilliant episode xx

[@davidmartin6215]

Sadly very inaccurate about the pipe over the station. It is a gravity storm combined sewer dating from when the river was originally culverted. The railway went under it simply because that was the best option at this site, as it is also at many other river crossings, especially along the northern half of the Circle Line. There are a similar number of rivers crossing under the lines around Paddington & Liverpool Street. That water being pumped out the well is ground water from the ground around and under the tracks, the pipes run parallel to the tunnel. That water is a mix of natural ground water, leaking pipes and brackish water from The Thames. I know, because that my bridge to look after along with many other similarly interesting structures.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Hello. Who do you work for and what do you do? Love the use of the word ‘brackish’

[@davidmartin6215]

@@alexgrundon2346 Thames Water in charge of Sewers Crossing Railways. I look after 1000's of assets and have many LUL drawings I use when working on the crazy interfaces that we have.

[@davidmartin6215]

@@alexgrundon2346 Brackish water is water that is salty as in The Thames downstream of Teddington weir. London's ground water in a mix of brackish water, leaking pipes, surface run off and deeper spring water that comes in from outside of London.

[@ericadodd4735]

What is the only thing that can be better than watching an episode of HLH?.... catching up on S8 and watching 2 episodes back to back! Great to have you back guys! I totally look for the hidden gems around the network that you and the tours have pointed out to me, and I'm always showing them to friends too 😀

[@DesiroDriver]

Pick of the pops, Rylan then Hidden London Hangouts! Saturdays are great once again! ☺️

[@woodnorton]

Finally up to date binge watched all the hangouts. And I've never Binge watched anything, hardly ever watch anything on a channel which wasn't around 30 years ago either. I suppose I better look at the Patreons.

[@grahamstubbs4962]

-14:07 That's bad ass. Bloke in a suit and a hat with a stogie. I assume that's 14:07 from the end. All he needs is a Webley to go with that ensemble.

[@wegladstone1967]

Great episode. I well remember the bar there of yore. Many's the pint I had there (and at Liverpool Street) en route for home. Very sad day when it closed.

[@andrewstevenson5449]

I remember the pub on the platform. I'd like to say I remembered it well, but I think I only went in once or twice.

[@Clavichordist]

What a wonderful episode I sadly missed, again! We have to remember that the model railway wasn't something like we have today with small OO-scale locomotives and carriages. In the 1920s and 30s these models would be those large O-scale tinplate affairs with lots of cardstock and balsa buildings and other structures and not plastic like we have today. We can also build railways virtually if we wish using programs such as N3V Games's Trainz series. Some members have been recreating the London Underground using that program. How far they've gotten I don't know but there is track, stations and trains available for use. The posters are really stunning! I love the simple designs yet they say a lot. I'm sure my mum and dad would've loved them as well. She and my dad attended and met at Boston Museum of Fine Arts School and married in 1959. I do have a question. Were the posters silk screen printed for the events? The last poster is similar to a design my dad printed while he was in art school.

[@NJPurling]

The shot of Sloane Square, 1998/43151 looks almost the same as Marlborough Rd closed Met station. You can still see the line of the canopy in the back wall of the station building. This had me thinking of Lords. Any chance of getting the keys to the Emergency Access doors below the hotel. Just wondered if anything at all survived the upheaval of the 1960s that took away the station buildings.

[@Blade_Daddy]

I appreciate all the Westbourne details.

[@Nick-13]

Fascinating - I always assumed that the large culvert pipe over the platform was full of water, but I'm guessing it holds the pipes we saw in the cupboard. Is it possible to walk through the culvert, for the pipes maintenance ? Have photographed the flower enamel panels, but missed the roundel hanging basket brackets - need another visit !

[@wescreek3493]

It is great to have you back I get excited when I catch an episode have a great season of tours and videos

[@DavidShepheard]

36:03 Behind the big sign that says: "District Line" there is a mast/pole on the roof of Slone Square station that has two big square array things on it. The two square arrays look like they are at right angles to each other. What is that? is it an early communcation system (telephones or something else)? Is it lighting too help people find the statiion at night? Is it an electrical substation on the roof? Is it something else? in a later picture, it looks like one of the square things is gone, but the other is still there.

[@Fedderchini]

Sorry missed it was out coming home in one of tbe worst downpours soaked thru …. This is amazing bravo 🙌🏽

[@rsmith2312]

I would think the roundel above the ticket office (44th minute) is exceptionally large as it faced into King's Rd and therefore could be viewed from quite a distance. For the comment on the stern looking policeman, this is in part because people needed to hold still for such long exposure periods in the early days of cameras.

[@isashax]

What a fantastic new video! So amazed by that river since I saw it on Secrets of the London Underground. So where does that water go exactly? Isn't it used? Being fresh it's a pity if it goes to waste! Maybe that's my thinking because we have so little rain over here in the East of Spain...

[@MontytheHorse]

It runs into the River Thames.

[@isashax]

@@MontytheHorse ahhh ok! Thanks!

[@chrisnix6352]

Hi All. Welcome to the show. I’m out and about tonight so might not be able to engage as much as normal.

[@Catsarefab]

Another good episode 👏

[@tdchayes]

For me some of the most interesting bits are the parts from WWII. Shelters and disasters and rebuiding.

[@Almacni]

Love the old photographs at the end after the tour. At 43:46 does the entrance have the stations on it, either side of the entrance? Something you do not see now days until you are inside. I live on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific and yep we do not have trains...But I often travel to Sydney Australia and ride the trains there. I also now follow some of the driver up front as they travel various lines...just saying to my wife...when we finally save enough to do our trip to London, there are a number of stations and attractions that we will pass through or visit and now Slone is one that we will have to pass through and visit. Sorry for my lazy searching but do you have one with Winston Churchills secret station? Thank you for the many hours of information and exploration under the tunnels of London Trains...if money was no object I would be doing this as a hobby too...without the money and the people like you guys...I can do it all for free and learn. Awesome work guys. By the way you all come out like professionals in the Hi-Vis and look like officials in every way. 🥰😀😁

[@stephenjeffrey3815]

Love the episode, guys, and gals. Once again, I didn't know about the river inside the station. It was really interesting. Also, the posters about the Chelsea Flower show were interesting, I noticed on the posters that the bus numbers and one in particular the Coach K3. There is now where I live in Kingston, a K3 bus that goes from Esher to Roehampton. Is it the same I wander?

[@SaturnCanuck]

Fantastic. Love to see these histories. I look forward to next week....

[@paulgiffen6836]

Hi team, what a fantastic station i never new it had a river through it and what a superb building it used to be before the war. Another station a must to see next time im up. Thank you all for a great show ❤❤

[@jacksugden8190]

Be interesting to see the hidden bits 😊

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Especially the Vegas style waterfall stuffed in an escalator cupboard.

[@jacksugden8190]

A nice old map of the route of the Westbourne is found on Wikipedia

[@jgodfrey546]

Another gem! Here's hoping work doesn't conflict with the premiere again..

[@stigroo9058]

Ooh almost like station Mudlarking 😂

[@SOUTHALLAlanTMobilityScooter]

I am almost certain I have seen a pipe across Westbourne Park Station tracks. Cannot find a photo though.

[@MontytheHorse]

I do hope a certain Tim Dunn isn’t upset that Siddy is exploring the Underground without him! 😂 On a serious note, I have bought drinks and snacks from the shop that used to be the Hole In The Wall. It’s rather sad that there are no pubs left on the Underground.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Tim and Siddy have an open professional relationship. They pair up with other people whenever the mood (and contract) takes them.

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

Another top class explore, Guys. Keep ‘em coming and thanks for sharing your adventure.🙂👍

[@stigroo9058]

Ahh short sleeve shirts ! Brrrr from cooler lands!

[@Shalott63]

I think they shot that a while ago, during the break between seasons 7 and 8. It's not short sleeve weather here now (unless you're really hardy)!

[@Muswell]

Hi. I really don't get this river malarkey. When they built the station, it was surrounded by countryside & greenery. So, when they planned the railway & station complex, why on Earth didn't they build it alongside the river - like 10ft away - instead of building it very the exact spot where it was - & then having to do all that pumping up & over nonsense. When you're hovering over plans & making decisions, surely you'd just say "right, we'd better build it in that spot so we avoid the river then". . I don't understand the mentality.

[@alexmckenna1171]

That guy with the hat - could have been 1930-33.. Wonder if he had the occasional G&T in the pub? Shame we haven't got a cloche hat to date it..

[@dianekivi5349]

It was curtains for Sloane Square then?

[@paulusthegrey]

Very reminiscent for Farringdon.

[@uzziel2005]

Interesting it's the river Westbourne, which is an area to the west of the river Bourne, and hence Bournemouth.

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

What I wonder at times, when I watch in what crowded spaces you film, does Trinity the Tripod (or however we call her) have a Hi-vis too? (And if not: Whoy not?)

[@alexgrundon2346]

Trinity has a bit of hi-vis tape coquettishly placed round her ankle - she insisted on it

[@garethbrown4231]

was the bomb that hit it a v2 or bomber droped

[@madhatter61]

You can buy the light boxes but they don't have Hidden londoN on them. Please look at stocking alternative stations and slogans packs

[@doublea06]

46:48 Me: (That's worse than disused stations!)

[@ChavJag]

She looked lovely in that shirt last week lol

[@jacksugden8190]

Liked the 1920’s view of the station, 1951 looked a bit plain and bare by comparison, couldn’t trace the architect, was he Walter A Curtain please?. Couldn’t find when the current station building was built, I remembered using it between 1983-5, few more times since some years ago, was surprised to learn of a river well and bridge for a river that took it to the Thames. Such a shame after the bombing destroying such a smashing station, as these days looking so sad and baron, unable to recall the last time I was at the station, looked different to what remembered.

[@ianmcclavin]

🎉They've retiled the platforms at least twice since the seventies, I loved the green ones with the grey "lattice gate" designs (in connection with the Chelsea Flower Show) but they were all removed and replaced about 5 years ago by these ubiquitous white and blue ones.

[@jacksugden8190]

@@ianmcclavinThanks for the information, trying to think when I was last at that station, must have been before those flower tiles.

[@lukemauerman3734]

I wrote and published a novel featuring an air raid at Sloane Square. Not sure I want to know how much of it I'd got quite wrong

[@MrAustinPowers]

How do the fish 🐟 go up and over or do they need to get out jump on a tube train then jump back in afterwards 😂

[@chrisst8922]

Secrets of the London Underground: Check. Siddy: Check. Hi - Viz: Check....but where's that other bloke?

[@alexgrundon2346]

Different series. Timmy off the telly is still on telly. Lovely man

[@zenzeleluckymtshali8433]

GOOD MORNING

[@lmj9517]

ft. Exposure?

[@doublea06]

✴✴✴🌟🌟

[@andrijbebko8435]

It used to be such a gorgeous little station, fitting for Chelsea. Now just a boring little box with an ugly box of a building plopped on top.

[@Brendan_Keyport-WA7BMK]

Curious about the cigarette/fag name on the right side of the picture showing the tracks at 45:20 in the video - "Minor" -- would that be pronounced like "The Minorities" in east london, or as in a name for an underage person?

[@alexgrundon2346]

“mee-norr”?

[@mattiepw4571]

The sound in the station is terrible you should buy mics 🎤

[@alexgrundon2346]

Thanks babes. Why didn’t we think of that

[@stigroo9058]

Wet wipes anybodyyyy

[@davedrew9328]

Are the members of the team married and are any of them married to each other ?

[@alexgrundon2346]

Yes and no…in that order. We are all just friends. And colleagues too. But mainly friends.

[@drew4744]

Forget Kim K, its all about Kim CATashian!

[@kennyangel]

Bit of a shame that there was no footage where any of you came out of the closet.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Nice to see the humour’s spreading. Thanks for watching. I’ll persuade the girls to bounce out of a cupboard for you soon 😉

[@zenzeleluckymtshali8433]

I CAN HEAR WATER..COMMENT IN SLOANE SQUARE NICE JOKE

[@geoffreymartin2764]

Scary things. 🏳‍🌈 Incl. Alex.

[@Floortile]

absolutely fascinating subject; absolutely dementing presenters. Sorry, but the forced (or otherwise) jocularity really grates and distracts.

[@alexgrundon2346]

Aww thanks Floortile! Glad you like the subject. Watch it with the sound off

[@Faithdenelzen]

I have a little london underground 🚇 collection and one of the collection is a Sloane Square white ceramic mug. It's one of seven I have Keep up the awesome work guys ❤ From an Aussie Underground fan