1/270 - Gants Hill

Gants Hill Roundel,
15th February 2017

If you are following my Instagram account (@tubespottingdan) you will know I am making my way round the entire network, and visiting every station in the process. I am going to write a blog entry for every London Underground station, and I have struggled to decide which station I was going to review first, but on my visit to Gants Hill today I decided I have to start with Gants Hill. 

Gants Hill at first appears to be just a busy roundabout, with only the small roundels (left) at the five entrances to the Central line station suggesting there is a tube station around. The station is situated below the roundabout, with no surface building, however, once you have made your way through the ticket barriers and down the escalator you are in for a treat. 

Eastern bound platform,
15th February 2017

70 years as a major station on the Hainault loop

Gants Hill opened in December 1947 and is the busiest station on the Hainault loop, with 6.59 million people using the station each year. The reason I decided to blog about Gants Hill first is because it really is a beautiful station. Work to build the station started in the 1930's, but World War Two saw work being suspended. During this time the station, like many, was used as an air raid shelter. Despite London Underground stations commonly being used as air raid shelters, Gants Hill is the easternmost station to be entirely underground on the network. 

The dominating roof at Gants
Hill, 15th February 2017

Holden's masterpiece 

Charles Holden is perhaps the most famous architect on the Underground, so you will hear his name quiet often in this blog. Holden designed 47 stations in London, most of which are on the Piccadilly line, but I quite like Gants Hill. Those of you who follow my Instagram will know I am a fan of uplighting in tube stations, and Gants Hill features these illuminating the prominent arched roof. Holden drew inspiration from the Moscow Metro, hence being able to see and walk through to the platform in the opposite direction. 

Tube inspired clock,
15th February 2017

There are some interesting things to look out for if you visit Gants Hill. The uplights form part of the structure for benches in the concourse. There is a London Underground inspired clock on both platforms, and dotted around the entire station are the little roundels in the tiles. Another interesting thing to look for are the platform signage which still cover up North Weald and Ongar stations, which were closed in September 1994, the same day the famous Aldwych station closed.

From the surface, Gants Hill is a busy roundabout, yet beneath the surface there is a gem. If you have never been to Gants Hill, you really should. 

More photos

The large roundabout in which Gants Hill is situated beneath,
15th February 2017

The platforms at Gants Hill,
3rd April 2017

Bench on the concourse at Gants Hill,
15th February 2017

Please send in any questions you have, I will endevour to answer them each time I update my blog. Remember to follow my Instagram, tubespottingdan for more pictures.