Richmond’s 1937 Art Deco station restored

UK: A major refurbishment of the 1937 Art Deco station at Richmond in southwest London has been completed, reversing later alterations and addressing weathering which had degraded the building’s distinctive appearance and architectural details.

The project was launched by South Western Railway, Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in late 2023.

Work began with the renewal of the façade and deep cleaning of the Portland stone exterior. This was followed by repair and polishing of the tarnished bronze and mahogany entrance doors and the reinstallation of the bronze lettering at the top of the façade. Flagpoles were redeployed to their original position.

Original features were revealed and repaired, with historic designs replicated and period-appropriate paint colours identified through specialist analysis. Bronze fascia panels were handmade to the original designs, replaced the later cladding, and new rooflights installed to recreate the 1930s effect. The lighting scheme now highlights both the entrance canopy and restored high-level lettering at night.

Inside the ticket hall, the removal of more cladding revealed the original timber frieze and green glass signage, much of which was still intact. Missing sections were replaced, and the woodwork was polished.

SWR has installed chandelier features inspired by the original Art Deco light fittings, new oak shopfronts for retail units and retro poster frames with licensed 1930s artwork. Perimeter LEDs provide downlighting for the booking hall, while a combination of original and replica green glass signs have been brought back into view. An original WH Smith sign has also been preserved.

‘We are very proud of what has been achieved, bringing the station back to its original heritage condition and providing a fantastic gateway to Richmond’, said Chris Gregory, Asset Enhancement Manager for South Western Railway.