Tuesday 12 November 2013

Railway Reflection

The Oxford Road Railway Station reflecting its surrounding in the late afternoon sun.  The original station on this site was opened in 1849 but became dilapidated and was demolished when the line was electrified and modernised, being rebuilt in 1960 (and  recently refurbished in 2004).  I have not been able to find a photograph of the 19th Century station but it was lucky to be rebuilt before the mid 60s and concrete brutalism. The architect Max Clendinning was joined by the structural engineer Hugh Tottenham of the Timber Development Association whose timber shell roof and this laminated timber façade make it so distinctive.  Rather than reverse the time in ones head from the reflection, turn around and see

the clock tower and the correct time.
Express Sprinter waiting at Oxford Road
The curved wooden beams inside the station support the canopy and there have been later additions of waiting shelters in the same theme
who occupants may be reflecting on when their train might arrive. 
To see what the clock tower is attached to one must walk away from the station and see it soaring above what was the Refuge Assurance Building built by Alfred Waterhouse in the 1890s and then later in 1910-12 a 217 ft (66m) clock tower and extension along Oxford Road was built by his son John. Refuge Assurance occupied the building for nearly a century but today it is the Palace Hotel a short walk from the ornate
entrance (still with the Refuge name on the stonework), to the railway station or vice-versa.

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet sojourning this week at

10 comments:

photowannabe said...

I love the Railway Reflection that looks like a banner across the station roof. Great capture.
Enjoyed your whole post.

Roger Owen Green said...

The Refuge building is MOST impressive!

Carver said...

Beautiful shots of the station and I love the reflection shot. Carver, ABC Wed. Team

Nonnie said...

I'm taken aback at the beauty of the railway and other buildings pictured!

betty-NZ said...

That's a wonderful old building! Thanks for sharing it.

Hazel said...

What a gorgeous reflection of the clock tower! The Refuge Assurance looks very charming and lovely.

Hazel

Obsessivemom said...

That reflection is so clear.. beautiful. Love these old buildings.

Leslie: said...

These are fantastic shots, but I'm wondering where this station is - what city. I was in Oxford last year but this doesn't look familiar to me.

Leslie
abcw team

Anonymous said...

beautiful shots. great reflection of the clock tower

Mildred said...

Very nice reflection!
And the building in the last shots is magnificient!
Thanks for sharing.