Beckenham Hill

Beckenham Hill is unique along the Catford Loop for two reasons. Firstly, it is the only station along the route to feature its main building at the same level as the platforms (as per all such structures originally on the line, this is positioned on the ‘’up’’ side). The second reason concerns structural design. As mentioned within other sections of this website, architecture along the Catford Loop was standardised on two variants; Crofton Park and Bellingham were of one distinct type, Catford, Beckenham Hill, and Ravensbourne were of another. Of the latter group, both Ravensbourne and Catford have witnessed significant structural alterations over the years which have resulted in the destruction of their original station buildings. Once single-storey, constituted of red brick, and demonstrating square window frames and distinctive triangular pitches, these buildings may now be lost to us, but their design traits remain within the still extant structure at Beckenham Hill. This amply illustrates why this station is now historically important, despite itself having been the subject of economical measures in the latter British Rail era.

Beckenham Hill opened with the Catford Loop on 1st July 1892, concurrent with all other stations along the route. The aforementioned station building measured some 24 ft by 85 ft, which compared to the general 38 ft by 38 ft ground area of its Loop Line counterparts. Attached to the main structure’s platform-facing façade was a pitched-roof canopy, some 125 feet in length, matched by an identical structure on the ‘’down’’ side. Again, the canopy design was standardised at all stations along the route, but subsequent alterations have left Bellingham and Crofton Park as the only sites to retain the original 1892 architecture. Further mention should be made of the ‘’down’’ side canopy at Beckenham Hill: this was backed at its rear partially by a brick wall (only Catford boasted timber rear elevations, as a weight saving tactic upon a viaduct), and partly by a brick-built waiting shelter. In addition, the canopy featured wooden wrap-a-round ends. Naturally, linking both platform surfaces was the customary enclosed footbridge, iconic of the route, this spanning for some 70 feet at the London end of the layout. The canopies of both platforms stretched up to the footbridge entrances, providing passengers with the luxury of full protection from the elements. As a consequence, the main station building had a canopy overhang at its London end of 40 foot.

There is one structure which has yet to be mentioned: the signal box. Saxby & Farmer were drafted in by the LC&DR on numerous building projects as signalling contractors, the Catford Loop being one such scheme. A signal cabin, identical in appearance to that still in existence at Sturry, emerged beside the ‘’up’’ line. This was rather detached from Beckenham Hill station itself, for it was positioned at the ‘’country’’ end of the layout, on the opposite side of the road bridge. Like the example at Crofton Park, the signal box here controlled a simple layout consisting of no more than the running lines and a trailing crossover.

Alterations began under the Southern Railway, the most significant of which was the electrification of the Catford Loop in 1925, scheduled electric passenger services commencing on 12th July of that year. This formed part of the SR’s earliest electrification project on its Eastern Section territory, the whole route from Victoria and Holborn Viaduct to Orpington via Bickley Junction being treated with third rail. In conjunction with this, the platforms at Beckenham Hill were extended with Exmouth Junction-manufactured prefabricated concrete, in addition to the gas lamp design being altered. At the same time, the station lost its intricate LC&DR canopy valances, these being replaced by plain timber versions. Furthermore the footbridge, although remaining enclosed, saw its upper timber half rebuilt using the same style of wood as that of the canopies. Consequently, the footbridge lost its original pitched roof, a downward-slanting design instead being implemented. Beckenham Hill station was the only site along the Catford Loop to be subject to these comprehensive modifications.

The 1959 Kent Coast Electrification saw the abolition of the Saxby & Farmer signal box, its final day of operation being on 22nd March of that year. A prefabricated concrete permanent way hut also emerged at the ‘’country’’ end of the ‘’up’’ platform as part of the works. Today, if the footbridge's staircases are assumed to be significant, then this station's structural degrading can be traced back to as far as the 1970s. The staircases match the rudimentary design of those examples installed at Otford and Broadstairs during this period, and their installation at Beckenham Hill would seem to coincide with all structures on the ‘’down’’ platform being demolished, in addition to the footbridge losing its roof and timber side walls. Consequently, all that remained complete was the main station building on the ‘’up’’ side, although this demonstrated the aforementioned plain canopy valance. By this time, to the passing glance, Beckenham Hill looked more akin to the 1931 SR rebuilds present at Bexleyheath and Welling, rather than a station of 1892 heritage. The final indignity occurred in 2003, which saw the replacement of the timber canopy valance with a grey corrugated metal fabrication, somewhat reminiscent of the dreary asbestos which began to frequent stations around the turn of the 1970s. Whilst a futuristic bus shelter-style structure has emerged on Beckenham Hill’s ‘’down’’ platform, and the main building has been retiled, this station has lost much of its charm and character, but at least the important station building still stands, reminding us of the architecture once seen at both Ravensbourne and Catford.

23rd February 2007

A London-bound view shows that the station still retained a largely traditional appearance. The timber canopy valance had given way to a dreary one made from corrugated metal, albeit supported upon the original stanchions, and the footbridge had lost its roof. © David Glasspool

23rd February 2007

Class 465 No. 465159 had arrived with a stopping service to Victoria. Clusters of multiple television screens were installed on the platforms in 1992 for the introduction of the Class 465/466 "Networker" fleet, which permitted driver-only operation. © David Glasspool

23rd February 2007

The main station building was generally in a good state of repair in 2007, with neat red brick and a then recently re-tiled roof. Unfortunately, it showed obvious signs of vandalism, which necessitated metal mesh grills over the windows. A direct footpath to Beckenham Hill Road can be seen ascending to the right of the structure, and the approach for vehicles is behind the camera. © David Glasspool

23rd February 2007

The "down" platform was now host to a bus shelter-style structure, this of which can just be seen on the right. This design had started to emerge in the mid-2000s and identical examples appeared across the South Eastern Division network, such as at Hither Green and Stone Crossing. The footbridge retained substantial brick staircases on either side, these of which had been spruced up nicely. © David Glasspool

23rd February 2007

The station is located 9½-miles from Victoria, but this London-bound view gives it a somewhat rural air. The presence of grassed slopes on either side makes the platform surfaces here relatively narrow. © David Glasspool

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