Crouch Hill

 

The station was opened in 1868 as part of the Tottenham & Hampstead Junction Railway planned to run from Gospel Oak to Barking. Crouch End (the end of Crouch Hill) grew up as a hamlet on the old medieval route from London to the north. At this time it was governed as part of Hornsey, which became a parish in around 1300. The name "Cruch End" is recorded in 1593. This heavily wooded area contained farms and country houses, one of which was Crouch Hall, probably built in 1681 at the crossroads of Crouch End.[citation needed] The transcribed 1829–1848 diaries of William Copeland Astbury, recently made available, describe in great detail London life of the period, including walks to Crouch End. Crouch End remained rural until around 1880. Large parts remained in private ownership, inhibiting development. However, the development of the railway changed the area significantly. By 1887 there were seven railway stations in the area. Crouch End became a prosperous[citation needed] middle-class suburb due to an influx of mainly clerical workers who could easily commute to the city. The large old houses were replaced by comfortable middle-class housing, public parks were created, and a number of new roads and avenues, such as Elder Avenue and Weston Park, were laid out.

 

The station has two platforms, one for each direction. Platform 1 is for trains toward Gospel Oak and platform 2 is for trains toward Barking. This station does not have a ticket office except for the security office, which is not officially part of the station but is next to the stairs to one of the platforms. However, staff are present on the platforms during the hours trains are running. This station has two ticket and two Oyster card machines; one for each platform as well as two waiting rooms. This station has a shelter on each platform. The platforms are only reachable by stairs. There are no current plans to introduce lift access. Since January 2010, trains run every 15 minutes in each direction, towards either Gospel Oak or Barking throughout the day. All trains from the station are operated by London Overground. Whilst the station has no direct interchange to a tube station, Finsbury Park station is a fifteen-minute walk away along Stroud Green Road. Archway tube station is also a fifteen-minute walk away. The station is in Travelcard Zone 3 and has wi-fi, a waiting room and help points, but no toilets.

 

Connections: London Bus routes 210, W3 and W7 serve the station.

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