About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath-taking view. It is a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More information can be found at the SideTracked Website.
About Bounds Green Underground Station
Bounds Green is a London Underground station which opened on 19 September 1932 in the London Borough of Haringey. The station is on the Piccadilly line and is on the boundary between Zone 3 and Zone 4.
Local History
The station was used as an air-raid shelter during the Second World War, and people slept on the stairs between the escalators here as well as on the platforms. On the night of 13 October 1940, during The Blitz, a German aircraft dropped a bomb that caused the collapse of the north end of the westbound platform tunnel, killing and injuring many people amongst those sheltering from the air raid. A memorial plaque was placed in 1994, at the north end of the westbound platform.
Architecture
This tube station is designed in the typical "Box-style" of the architect Charles Holden by his colleague C. H. James. Holden's designs emphasised functionality combined with balanced geometry and the use of modern materials, especially glass and reinforced concrete.
The octagonal frontage is flanked by a ventilation tower. The octagonal ticket hall is lit by four large windows with an imposing lattice of concrete beams in the ceiling; large London Underground roundels; and original bronze signs, ventilation grilles and information panel frames. The sub-surface areas of the station are finished in biscuit-coloured tiles lined with red friezes.
The station was refurbished in 2007 as part of Transport for London's £10 billion Investment Programme. This work involved the restoration of heritage features and included retiling and decorating the station. In January 2010 the station was listed as Grade II.
Uplighters
One of the most interesting features of the station interior is a trio of bronze uplighters, two in the passageway between the platforms and one in the entrance hall. They were part of the original station design back in 1932.
Chewing gum art
In February 2021, I noticed some tiny artworks had appeared outside the station. They are the work of popular local artist Ben Wilson, who normally operates in the Muswell Hill area. I found four by the station, see if you can spot any.