Vol 13 No 15 Hampton Station Part 1

Non-Hampton & Richmond Borough related posts.
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Les1949
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HAMPTON, AROUND AND ABOUT

Things you may not know, or didn’t know you knew!

No 15 HAMPTON STATION Then and Now
Part 1 1864 - 1939
The Railways came to Hampton in November 1864, following the extension of the line from Twickenham, via Strawberry Hill and as far as Shepperton. The original intention had been to extend the line all the way to Chertsey by a bridge over the River Thames, but that was soon abandoned as being too expensive. It wasn’t until 1901 that the link to London Waterloo via Kingston was up and running (now, of course, the main route). The level crossing was opened in 1898 when the two sections of Percy Road was opened, controlled by a signal box.

To start with there were seven steam passenger trains, each way, every day (electrification came in January 1916). As well as passenger trains there was also freight traffic in the line. Hampton had its own sidings.

Several businesses made use of the freight line. Arthur Healey had a coal business located in a coal yard from around 1890. The Yard sat where the new apartment block, which replaced Pecos and Alderson’s Garage, now stands. The Healeys lived close by in Oldfield Road, occupying 2 & 4 Ivy Villas. Not only were the Healeys coal merchants they were also described, variously, as Carter’s, Stone Masons and Contractors. The Thames Valley Coal Company were in Ashley Road, whilst the London Co-op shared the yard behind the Railway Bell (the Co-op was located close to Beveree). Another use of the freight traffic was by the Market Gardens in Hampton sending flowers and produce to London. Coal was also transported to a private siding near Kempton Park for use by Hampton Waterworks.

Not only was there commuter and freight traffic there was also a service specifically for Hampton Grammar School. Originally founded at St Marys Church, at the time of this article the school was located on Upper Sunbury Road.



This gave rise to ‘The Grid’ a special service for the pupils. The service ran from Richmond to Hampton on weekday mornings, timed to depart at 4.15pm for the end of the school day. Apparently, school lunches were not provided so there was a train from Hampton at 12.15pm, arranged to return to Hampton at 1.20pm! It was a different world then. This ‘special’ service ended when the school moved to its new premises on the Hanworth Road in 1939.

The Old Historian
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