Southern Rail manages the station for trains operated by Southern Rail and Thameslink. But, of course, they are now part of the same parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway, although they have kept their original liveries.
Before exploring the station, I spoke with a helpful station manager, and she said it was OK for me to wander around and take photos. So it’s now part of my travelling DNA to ensure I check this out wherever possible.
The station isn’t a natural end of the line, but it is the final destination on a looping Thameslink service that sees trains return to London, having not long arrived from there. The station opened in 1847 and now has four platforms. Platforms 1 & 2 on the north side are for trains from Wimbledon, Epsom and Horsham.
Platforms 3 & 4 serve the branch line to Epsom Downs through Belmont and Banstead, curving dramatically due south before the two lines converge into a single track before reaching Belmont.
The station also sits under two bridges. The overhead footbridge connects all the platforms, and the main Brighton Road bridge carries local traffic down to Banstead. It’s also a destination station for local buses, with several bus stops directly outside the station.
Travelling to Sutton was once my daily commute from the edge of Essex between 2000 to 2001. On a good day, my journey would take up to two hours by train. First, I’d travel into Liverpool Street, then across to Farringdon and finally down to Sutton. On a bad day, the journey would take up to three hours, but I’d still be in by 09:00.
So forgive this slight indulgence as I start my blog revisiting Copthall House on Grove Road. Now the home of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS). In my day, it was the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS).
Sutton has a rich history, and the Wikipedia website goes into some detail about its growth from early beginnings as ‘South Farm’ as described in the Doomsday Book in 1086. And of all my photos taken today, one captures my imagination as I delve into the past.
At the top of the High Street, there’s a signpost with a colourful cock and direction markers. These point east to west: Carlshalton to Epsom, and north to south: London to Brighton. The signpost marks the crossroads where two turnpike roads met and where the Cock Hotel and coaching Inn once stood. A regular daily stop for stagecoaches travelling from London to Brighton. But travellers beware, as these turnpike roads were a haven for highwaymen.
My recollection of Sutton was that of a vibrant town with a somewhat hedonistic nightlife. The mile-long High Street dominates the town as it stretches from the station in the south to All Saints Church on Angel Hill in the north. Largely pedestrianised, it is Sutton’s shopping epicentre.
My impression today is of a more depressed area. Whilst the High Street is busy, and the place relatively clean and tidy, there’s a high proportion of empty and boarded buildings at its lower end. Maybe there’s a planned redevelopment, but it’s not evident if so.
The one thing that remains a constant wherever I travel is the ever-present corner-shop-style convenience store. No longer the bastion of just selling sweets, papers and tobacco as today’s demands have challenged them to sell almost anything from alcohol and food to handling online related payment services.
Alleys
I found myself wandering into side alleys and cut-throughs to explore what else Sutton had to offer. In search of something undiscovered, or more likely to showcase a forgotten part of Sutton in a different light. I wasn’t disappointed.
Between the Masonic Hall and Andrews Estate Agents on Grove Road, an alley leads to a bin store and parking area. Nothing unusual except for the short unspoiled cobbled area that leads to the back of Nando’s. Here the moped delivery drivers wait for their next order. As I crouched down to take this shot, one driver quickly scuttled out of the way – clearly camera-shy.
The Projekt Store is about a third of the way down the High Street, at no 126. Well, it’s not actually on the High Street, as it’s down a short alley between Pearson’s bike store and Vision Express. The shop’s name is displayed above the entrance, so walk through the manicured alley to find this fashionable menswear and lifestyle goods shop.
My next stop is in Lodge Place. It’s an open backyard behind several High Street shops just around the corner. It’s not the prettiest of views, and I wasn’t the only one taking an interest. There was another gent, with a name tag on a lanyard taking notes too. The area may be the cause of concern as it’s a public eyesore. Someone else from inside the shops moved the palette a few feet in a half-hearted attempt to do something, but he looked at me rather sheepishly.
And see my picture of the day for my final alley shot.
Artwork
You’ll know by now that I’ll always gravitate towards public artwork. Be they traditional or street art, Sutton has an eclectic mix. Here are a few of the ones I found.
Turn left out of the station and stumble into Wellesley Road, and you’ll see this image of the American singer-songwriter Eryka-Badu by urban muralist Eva Mena. It’s on the side of Indepth House, and it was commissioned by the owner in 2008, who was keen to promote local art. It has undoubtedly passed the test of time, as the colours are still vibrant.
The Sutton Heritage Mosaic is on the side of a three-story building on the corner of High Street and St Nicholas Road at Trinity Square. You can’t miss it. It’s a beautiful work of art commissioned by the London Borough of Sutton and created by Rob Turner and Gary Drostle. The view I’ve captured is only the central part of this nine-metre high by five-metre wide mosaic. The plaque by its side reads:
‘…depicting some of Sutton’s rich heritage. The mosaic was constructed from unglazed ceramic (porcelain) and was entirely hand cut and laid by hand by the two artists… In the centre, the ‘Emblemata’ depicts Nonsuch Palace and Park, which lay between Cheam and Ewell. This was the unrivalled palace of Henry VIII…’
Finally, turn down the side alley between Tim’s Cafe and The Sound Lounge on the High Street, and marvel at this collaborative mural by Mateusz Odrobny. It was created in 2017 from a design by students from Carshalton College, and six years on, it still looks impressive.
Picture of the Day – Alley View
I explored several alleys and cut-throughs during my visit, but I envisioned how this would look once here. The cut-through is quite intimidating, with narrow, high-sided walls. It leads alongside the M&S shop to its loading bay at the back of the shop, and signs around remind you CCTV overlooks this area. I suspect it may once have been a no-go area.
Nevertheless, I’m not too far in and sensed the ‘tunnel-like’ view would work well. And it does. The darker walls help to draw your eye onto the sunlit shop front opposite. Stunning in itself, but I waited for the right moment to catch shoppers walking by. I took a series of shots, but this shopper is nicely centred and balances the photo wonderfully.
I’ve played with the shading in post-production to get the right balance, and I’m delighted with the outcome.
- Location: Sutton High Street, cut through by M&S
- Date/Time: Tuesday 14th February 2023, 2.21 pm
- Settings: Camera – Canon EOS 200D; Aperture -f/18; Shutter Speed – 1/25; Focal Length – 18mm; Film Speed – ISO400
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Photos By RJT 