A historical railway station will be preserved after it was granted Grade II listed status.

Although Teddington station is not under any threat, it was made a listed building by English Heritage because of its special architectural and historic interest.

The news comes in time for the 150th anniversary of the railway’s arrival in Teddington next year.

Teddington ward Councillor Martin Elengorn has been trying to get the station listed for years.

He said: “The listing will protect it from unsuitable additions, corporate signage and clutter and help maintain its position as one of the most important buildings in the Park Road Conservation Area.

“The Park Hotel also dates from the coming of the railway in 1863 and has been listed Grade II for some years.

“This completes the picture.”

The station is the earliest surviving example of a series of Italianate villa style stations that the London and South Western Railway adopted in the 1860s.

The building has only had minor external alterations and has been modernised inside, retaining the ground floor layout and a spacious ticket hall.

It has even proportions, high quality brickwork and detailing in the window surrounds and eaves brackets.

Other examples of the Italianate villa style have also been protected by the Grade II listing, including Chertsey, Netley, Woolston and St Denys.

Teddington’s location on the Twickenham to Kingston branch line gives it added historical interest.

The 1863 branch line was Britain's first suburban railway network on a mainline railway, created to provide commuter services to London’s expanding western suburbs.

Of the three stations originally built Teddington is the only survivor as Hampton Wick and Kingston have been rebuilt and Strawberry Hill was not built until 1873 and then partly rebuilt in the 1930s.

The 1930s footbridge and buildings on the east platform are not of special interest, which is made clear in the list entry.


What the people think of Teddington station

Katie Warren, 28, accounts manager, from Teddington said: “It is great thing because it’s part of the history of Teddington. The fact it will be preserved for longer can only be a good thing.”

Luke Albins, 24, assistant editor, from Hampton said: “It is nice building and it shows a bit of history. The more and more things change, you do realise how important these buildings are and although I didn’t know it was protected, now I do I am glad that it is.”

Drew Jones, 49, film producer, from Teddington, said: “I am all for preserving the most historic buildings. There are too many instances of housing and flats going up damaging the local visage. There is an element of history around Teddington, and it's important to preserve that.”

A 42-year-old accountant from Teddington, who did not wish to be named, said: “It is probably a nicer building than would otherwise be built there, but to be honest I wouldn't have thought twice about the building if you hadn't mentioned it.”