The Highams Park Signal Box Association has now been formed to protect and develop local community uses for the Box at Highams Park level crossing. This follows a campaign by the Highams Park Forum in 2002, and representations from the Council, the Civic Society and others for the signal box to be retained as a local landmark. The box was to have been demolished as part of the re-signalling of the Chingford Line. The decision to save it reflects the commitment of Railtrack (now Network Rail) to protect their heritage.

Why is Highams Park signal box important? The station, level crossing and signal box form the centre of Highams Park ‘village’, which grew up as a suburb of London around the arrival of the railway towards the end of the 19th century. The history of Highams Park and the railway are completely intertwined: the village grew up in this location because of the railway station, and the village gets its name from the station, not the other way round.

When the railway came in 1873, the station was sited a short distance outside the small hamlet of Hale End. The station was initially called Hale End and houses started to grow up around it. In 1891 the lake and grounds of the Highams house were given to the public, and to encourage inner city dwellers to make the journey to visit the lake the station was renamed Highams Park in 1894. New residents moving into freshly built housing started to call the place where they lived Highams Park in line with the name of the station. In due course the Post Office recognised this and Highams Park became the official name for the area. The railway is just as important today with large numbers of local people using it daily - many chose to live here because of the station. The level crossing and its signal box are an unusual sight in London and their presence helps to ‘define’ Highams Park.

The current signal box was built in 1925. It bears large signs declaring ‘Highams Park’ and stands as a tall, dominant, symbol, visible from all approach roads. It is not tucked away apologetically in a corner of the town; it is right in the centre, with daily life going on around it. The two-tone audible warning when the level crossing barriers descend can be heard throughout the village and, far from being annoying, is like the heartbeat of the village.

The signal box would not attract architectural awards, but is a working building which has been important to the lives of Highams Park and its residents for over 75 years. We believe it to be the only one of its kind left in the London postal area - the juxtaposition of the signal box, crossing, shops and station in a busy commercial centre is the essence of Highams Park. This was recognised by Waltham Forest Council in erecting the Millennium Clock nearby – the signal box is located on the Greenwich meridian. It is also included on the Council’s Local List of Buildings of Architectural/Historic Interest.

We are looking at good uses for the signal box. It should be accessible to the public, it could provide a meeting place and local archive, it could be available for special events – we want to show some vision in seeking new uses for it. The Highams Park Forum is working with Waltham Forest Council and Network Rail to achieve this. The future of the Signal Box is discussed further on the Signal Box (future) page.

“It has been most truly said that these old buildings do not belong to us only; that they have belonged to our forefathers, and they will belong to our descendants unless we play them false. They are not in any sense our property, to do as we like with. We are only trustees for those that come after us.” William Morris 1889

Highams Park Signal Box Association

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