City Road

Northern Line

CITY ROAD

(1901-1922)

The City & South London Railway was built with small tunnels (by modern standards). To bring the tunnels up to a measurement allowing integration with the Charing Cross, Euston & Hampstead line (into what became the Northern Line), enlargement work was undertaken between 1922 - 1924. Initially work was originally attempted out of normal passenger hours but a tunnel roof collapse north of Elephant & Castle caused the entire line to be closed for the remainder of the work. City Road was not re-opened when the rest of the line did; the cost of upgrading and expanding the station was not deemed to be financially viable for its low passenger use.

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The partial remains of the station building seen here, housed the lift shaft (subsequently just used for ventilation purposes).
Its location was on the junction of City Road and Moreland Street.

(photo: c.1980)

The partial remains showing the access door on the right.

(photo: 2005)

The distinction between the brickwork of the original section and the rebuilt section is clear.

(photo: 2008)

The entrance door to the station in 2007.

The remains of the old station building seen in the preceding photos have been demolished - it could be easily argued that the remains of the station building were a bit of an eyesore. At least its replacement, seen being built here, has got commendable green functionality - see next photo and text below.

(photo: Jul 2017)

Not exactly aesthetically pleasing but it recycles heat from the tunnels below and uses it to heat a nearby school and council estate.
It's called the Bunhill 2 Energy Centre and is part of the Bunhill Heat And Power network.
An Islington Council PDF leaflet explaining it, is here.

(photo: Aug 2021)

Platform level.

The broad vertical stripes at the top of the photo are from bad film developing.

(photo: c.1980)

Evidence of its subsequent use as an air-raid shelter.

(photo c.1980)

When this stretch of what became the Northern Line was closed for tunnel widening in 1922, the platforms at the stations were lengthened as well. Except this one, because it was not going to be re-opened after the widening works.
Even viewed from a passing train, it is apparent just how short the platforms are.

(photo c.1980)

This small crossover passage between the platforms looks strangely marooned with the actual platform removed.

(photo c.1980)

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The southbound platform looking east at the track heading down (literally!) to Old Street.

(photo c.1980)

The Highbury & Islington Express wanted to run an article about the abandoned stations in their area (this one and York Road). London Underground refused to let them go down and take photos, so the paper asked if they could use some of the pictures on this web site instead. (They entitled the article "How I saw a secret world underground").
The photo here is one of the shots they used, although they printed it back to front for some reason. This is the correct way round.

The southbound platform looking west.

(Photo: 2008)

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(photo c.1980)

Looking down at the steps leading to the northbound platform.

(Photo: 2008)

Facing back toward the area shown in the photo above.

(photo c.1980)

Similar view as above. The white tiling was painted over but some of it is visible.

(Photo: 2008)

Looking down at the emergency stairs.

(Photo: 2008)

Top of the emergency stairs.

(Photo: 2008)

Euston (Northern Line)