HIGHAMS
PARK
HIGHAMS PARK
Exchange met colleagues at Highams Park, which recently celebrated a major anniversary
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
In the 150 years since it first opened, the area surrounding Highams Park station has changed dramatically. What was once a semi-rural destination for leisure-seeking city dwellers is now a bustling commuter suburb. But the station’s place at the heart of the community has remained constant.
“The people – passengers, neighbours and colleagues make Highams Park what it is,” says Mohamed Carrim, service delivery resilience manager.
“We often get good feedback and there’s a good relationship between the team and the regular customers. They appreciate having someone they can ask for information or assistance.”
Reka Mills works in the ticket office and has worked for London Overground for over 15 years. She also has a university degree in hospitality and once worked in a pub.
“I enjoy the human connections every day and I try to make every person feel welcome,” says Rena Mills. “We get on very well with the community around the station and they always get involved.”
Daniel Mitchell has worked at Highams Park for almost 25 years. “The job has changed a lot over the years, but I still enjoy meeting regular customers,” he says. “Some of them I’ve known since they were babies in prams!”
DID YOU KNOW?
Highams Park Lake was formed by the renowned 18th-century landscape gardener Humphry Repton.
BALL OF FAME
A few metres from the station, on land now occupied by a supermarket, once stood a huge factory that produced almost all the world’s table tennis balls. The Halex factory was established by the British Xylonite Company and was a major local employer until the 1970s. As well as ping pong balls, the factory made a variety of plastic household goods.
WHY I LOVE HIGHAMS PARK
Reka Mills
“There are some excellent cafés and restaurants nearby. Highams Lounge is one I recommend to people – it has very good coffee.”
Daniel Mitchell
“Highams Park lake is very nice. When I was young, I used to do a bit of fishing there – but I don’t think you can these days!”
BOX OF DELIGHT
The level crossing next to Highams Park station still boasts a traditional signal box. Although the crossing has been automated for more than 20 years, residents and politicians successfully campaigned to preserve it. For some time, it served as a café and crêperie.
DID YOU KNOW?
The station and surrounding area used to be known as Hale End until the late 19th-century.
BLAZIN’ A TRAIL
Famous names to have lived in Highams Park include holiday camp pioneer Fred Pontin, jazz music legend Johnny Dankworth, former England footballer Teddy Sheringham and members of the noughties hip hop group Blazin’ Squad.
PARTY LIKE IT’S 1873
The Liverpool Street to Chingford section of the railway is 150 years old this year and stations along the line marked the occasion with a series of community events in November. At Highams Park, these included a model railway display, music, food stalls and a vintage bus outside the station. The local library also hosted an exhibition of railway art and talks on the station’s history.
Resident Gordon Turpin, Chair of Highams Park Planning Group, said: “The houses grew up around the station, so it’s always been an important part of people’s lives. It’s good to bring people together to celebrate that.”
ROOM SERVICE
The station’s role as a community hub has been boosted by transforming an unused storeroom into a space for local groups and businesses.
After clearing the former parcel office, renewing the electrics and creating a secure access gate, the new ‘Station Rooms’ were made available to hire.
Opened in 2022, the facility is being used for various local events and meetings.
Funding for the work came from the Overground Improvement Fund, the Greater London Authority, Waltham Forest Council and community groups.
A similar community space opened at Chingford station in 2021.
Built with Shorthand