Metroland to be preserved

[Metroland]

Nope, not me you fools

At the turn of the 20th Century the Metropolitan Railway Company developed land along its route into one of London's first suburbs, calling it "Metro-land". One council on the Metropolitan line is trying to protect its slice of Metro-land for posterity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8151000/8151092.stm

 

[Ferret]

Nope, not me you fools

Thank heavens for that!!!

 

[gordonthemoron]

some of the stations on the Metropolitan line are lovely

 

[will1337]

I think it's a great idea. The Underground really has influenced the development of London so much and contributed to architecture too. This will keep the city diverse in the future as it's amazing the variety of buildings that are juxtaposed. From Horsenden Hill nearby in a few years time you'll be able to see the new skyline of 200m plus buildings in the centre including the Bishopsgate Tower along with the suburban 20's-40's housing in Pinner, Greenford etc. I think Wembley Stadium has given North West London a landmark and makes it look prominent throughout London.

I also like it how there's a lot of Art Deco architecture on the arterial roads such as along the "Golden Mile" on the A4 and the A40 has the Hoover Building etc and it's interesting to compare it to the more functional yet leafy residential developments from the same era that tend to line the railways.

 

[Metroland]

Indeed, the railways had a huge influence on the devlopmement of London, and tends to make it what it is today. There was a plan to rebuild huge parts of it after the war, but that would have destroyed much of what we know today. The railways keep the centre walkable and preserve much of the pre-war buildings which would have been destroyed in the Abercrombie plan.

I guess its not just Metroland suburbs (although that's the most well known), but the area round the piccadilly line (very much 30s) and around south, west and south east London, follows much the same styles of leafy suburbs and art deco. Then there is the areas around North East London, creations of (especially) the Great Eastern Railway with its cheap workers fares and Jazz trains.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUYiXnioHAI