Hello, and welcome to the top end of the Piccadilly Line
that's right we're heading out
into Zone 5 on a slightly bouncy train
but at least it's not that noisy
as we go to the top, to Cockfosters
in episode six, of End of the Line
alright, made it to Cockfosters with the
view of the depot back there behind me, but looking this way
down the station, three platforms .... one two three
and there's this magnificent concrete train shed
which we do need to acknowledge straight away
yes Cockfosters was part of the northern extension to the Piccadilly line
that opened in 1933
and the brick glass and concrete station
was created by design legend Charles Holden
who desinged several stations on this part of the Piccadilly
the train shed at the other end of the Piccadilly Line
at Uxbridge, is of a very similar design
and is meant to represent an end-to-end point, of the whole line
and the architecture, is just fabulous to look at
the platform canopies
are supported by portal frames
of narrow blade-like concrete columns
and beams rising from the platforms
and spanning across the tracks
there's also original signage, gorgeous lighting these nice benches
and this classic clock as well, which just looks great
so it's no surprise, that the whole station is Grade II listed
oh and actually, the station was almost called Trent Park
but we'll go to the actual Trent Park later
to find out why it's actually called Cockfosters
incidentally behind the platforms here on all three platforms
there are these buffer overrun sections
you can see it's just this sort of boring grey
with a metal mesh over the top of it
this used to be a flower bed!
when i was here ... ten? years ago, there were flowers
and then station staff had planted little Gnomes inside the flower bed
now it's just this drab .. grey .. thing - TfL!
what happened to the flowers, and more importantly
what happened to the gnomes?
on each platform by the way there are these little tiny yellow waiting shelters
they're very fitting and in keeping with the design of the station
however i think they're just used by contract cleaners
i don't actually think a passenger would ever sit
in one of these yellow waiting shelters
they're kinda cool though!
the other thing that looks great, is the ticket hall itself
where i found this mirror
the ticket hall is just beautifu as well, if you just stand here
admiring, the charles holden design
of the ticket hall here at Cockfosters
although my favourite bit
is over there - where it says "public telephones"
obviously there are no payphones nowadays, so
if you want to make a call you have to use your own cell phone
hello Geoff? - hello!
the reports are that there's a car park outside?
yeah that's right we are in the car park at Cockfosters
the building to note is that one there
that's where the drivers book on and sometimes you'll see them
enter the station via a little sneaky staircase
which takes them to their trains quicker rather than walking round the front
but we are in the car park, and there is a running theme isn't there
in End of the Line i think all the stations so far, except Brixton
have had a car park, i am fine with that
that can become the running ... joke .. catchphrase? to shout
for this series ... Car Park!
i exited Cockfosters tube station using the main entrance
turned right, and realised
it was time to go for a literal five minute walk
down the road, and that ...
... brings you to Trent County Park
a magnificent place to cycle, walk, come out for the day
go for a jog go for a run, there's Trent Country Park house as well
it's huge it's a huuuge
open, many acres of land
just reading online
apparantly they ones filmed an episode, Peter Davison
of Doctor Who here
it's nice
and country park seems a good as place as any
say by the cafe which is currently closed
to discuss the elephant in the room
and that is where the name Cockfosters
'tis such a silly name! comes from
some people saying it comes after an 18th century pub the Cock, or the Cock Inn
that's just down the road, but!
if you just read online, and i will read verbatim
simply what it says online
you can find out the fact that the name was recorded
as far back as 1524
and is thought to be either the name of a family
or that of a house which stood on Enfield Chase
we are in the London borough of Enfield
one suggestion
is that it was the residence of the Cock Forester
or Chief Forester, so 'Chief Forester'
becomes 'Cock Forester'
becomes 'Cock Fosters' - two words
becomes 'Cockfosters' - one word
and now you know
so i mentioned the london borough of Enfield there
which brings me to an extremely nerdy and niche fact and that is
within the boundary of the Greater London area
Cockfosters is actually the northern most
tube station, just beating High Barnet
just by a little bit, obviously there are other stations
which are futher north
but, within the confines of the London boundary
Cockfosters is the most northern Tube station, in London
anyway - i detract
because, behind me, Chalk Lane
and i'll just mention Tube Challenge for a second
we mentioned it at Amersham
we mentioned it at West Rusilip as well
and this is a very popular place to change
between here, one end of the line
and another, which is about 5 kilometres in that direction
and that's High Barnet getting between Cockfosters and High Barnet
has always been a tricky thiing to do
one popular stratgey
is to reverse here at Cockfosters, back down to Oakwood
pick up a bus, think it's the 307 from there, or!
you can just run for 20, 25, 30 minutes down here
down the hill, into the valley and back up again
starting, at Chalk Lane
if you're feeling fit ... ... which i no longer am
and across the road from the station
take a note of the bus stand and shelter
which is of a very nice design as well
and is very much part of the station
in that there are step here - two sets, down
that lead you to a subway, that take you under the mainroad
and into the ticket hall area
i also love that this subway is official part of the path of the London Loop
that's the circular walk around London
Cockfosters, is the moment that joins together
sections sixteen and seventeen
of the circuit, around London
and then is the end of the line here, at the top of the Piccadilly at Cockfosters
this is one definetely worth visiting, if you've never been
grab your Oyster card, or your bank Contactless card
come out this weekend, to the top, of the Picc
come and see the splendid wonder
that is Cockfosters
press subscribe, playlist coming up ...
thanks a lot