Blake Hall Station (EHER 33318)

Blake Hall station was opened in 1865 by the Great Eastern Railway as an intermediate station on the on a single line extension from a junction south of Loughton to Ongar, (the Ongar Extension Railway). Central Line Underground services arrived at Blake Hall in 1949 in the form of steam shuttles worked between Epping and Ongar by BR on behalf of London Transport. On 18th November 1957 electrified services were introduced, finally displacing steam from all-day passenger services. However, the expected increase in traffic never materialised and the station was closed by London Underground in 1981; passenger services were withdrawn between Epping and Ongar on 30th September 1994. The buildings have since been converted into a private residence.

Mid-19th century railway station and station master's house. <1> NRHE data import: Blake Hall station was opened in 1865 by the Great Eastern Railway as an intermediate station on the on a single line extension from a junction south of Loughton to Ongar, (the Ongar Extension Railway). Central Line Underground services arrived at Blake Hall in 1949 in the form of steam shuttles worked between Epping and Ongar by BR on behalf of London Transport. On 18th November 1957 electrified services were introduced, finally displacing steam from all-day passenger services. However, the expected increase in traffic never materialised and the station was closed by London Underground in 1981; passenger services were withdrawn between Epping and Ongar on 30th September 1994. Listed Grade II. Detailed railway history: 1949-1957: Epping to Ongar branch line served by steam locomotives operated by British Railways for London Underground. 1957: Line electrified as an extension to London Underground's Central Line from Epping to Ongar. 1981: Blake Hall station closed due to lack of passengers, platform demolished, and station never reopened to date. 1994: Whole Epping to Ongar branch line closed by London Underground. 1998. Whole line sold by London Underground. 2004-2007: Railway in use as a privately operated preserved railway. 2012 to date: Railway in use as a heritage steam railway, and Blake Hall station platform reinstated for aesthetic purposes only Exterior: Red brick built with gault dressings. Grey slate roofs. House of two storeys, three window range of ¼ pane vertical sliding sashes with segmental heads, stone cills with block supports. Rusticated quoins. Eaves band and two centre bands. Three red brick chimney stacks. Ticket office/station house at rear, in matching materials with central door with light over and windows to right and left. Half-hipped roof and red brick chimney stack to right. <2> See <3> <4> <5> <6>.