History
The Mid-Kent line was opened on 1 January 1857 by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. The Hayes branch line from Elmers End was built by the West Wickham & Hayes Railway, but was sold to the South Eastern Railway on the opening day, 29 May 1882.
The early single-storey, clapboard building was enough for the initial demand in an area of London that saw urbanisation relatively late. Usage remained low until electrification in 1925. As suburban development gained pace, the station was modernised in 1933 with shops being incorporated into the entrance. In 1940, it was badly damaged by a bomb and subsequently repaired in 1956.
In 2004, the Strategic Rail Authority proposed withdrawing services to Charing Cross from the Hayes Line. Following a campaign led by local Councillors and the Hayes Village Association, the plans were withdrawn.
Now, it is commonly used by school children from Hayes School and Ravensbourne School.
Read more about this topic: Hayes Railway Station
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The history of reform is always identical; it is the comparison of the idea with the fact. Our modes of living are not agreeable to our imagination. We suspect they are unworthy. We arraign our daily employments.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Free from public debt, at peace with all the world, and with no complicated interests to consult in our intercourse with foreign powers, the present may be hailed as the epoch in our history the most favorable for the settlement of those principles in our domestic policy which shall be best calculated to give stability to our Republic and secure the blessings of freedom to our citizens.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.”
—Henry James (1843–1916)