The London Underground network is largely the preserve of the city north of the River Thames; South London’s railways run predominantly above ground. One photographer reveals their diversity.
03 March, 2020
Working
as a documentary and portrait photographer, I spent some
time over the winter taking pictures at two very different local
train stations in my home of South East London. Just over two miles
apart, Peckham Rye and West Dulwich stations are
frequented by few tourists, and so provided the perfect platform
from which to capture Londoners.
The station of West Dulwich was built in 1863. Surrounded by
trees, it resembles a quiet country station with a footfall that’s
comparatively small in relation to the capital’s often packed
transport network. From here, looking eastwards through the leaves,
you can see the 17th-century clock tower of Dulwich College. The
people who alight at its two platforms tend to be the affluent
type.
Farther north, Peckham Rye station has served the residents of
Rye Lane and beyond since opening in 1865. Centred around a Grade
II-listed building built by architect Charles Henry Driver, it has
been adapted and extended over the subsequent centuries, giving it
a hodgepodge appearance. The demographics of its travellers is much
the same; it’s a jumble of suited young professionals, models,
musicians and mechanics.
These stations serve as a reminder of the diversity of London’s
residents and the many paths that cross as we make our way around
the city.
