Leslie William Green (6 February 1875 – 31 August 1908)[1] was an English architect. He is best known for his design of iconic stations constructed on the London Underground railway system in central London during the first decade of the 20th century, with distinctive oxblood red faïence blocks including pillars and semi-circular first-floor windows, and patterned tiled interiors done in the Modern Style (British Art Nouveau style).
Green married Mildred Ethel Wildy (1879–1960) in Clapham in April 1902. In 1904, they had a daughter, Vera (1904–1995).[1]
Career
Green established his own practice as an architect in 1897, working initially from his father's offices, before moving to Haymarket in 1900 and then to Adelphi House on Adam Street, by the Strand, in 1903. He became an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1898, and a member in 1899. Early commissions included works to homes and shops in various parts of the capital city.[1][2]
One of the variety of platform tiling patterns designed by Green
Green developed a unique Modern Style (British Art Nouveau style) style for the ground level station buildings, adapted to suit the individual station location. They were constructed as two-storey buildings with a structural steel frame – then a new form of construction recently imported from the United States – providing the large internal spaces needed for ticket halls and lift shafts (the first escalators were introduced in 1911). The exterior elevations were clad in non-loadbearing ox-blood red (sang de boeuf) glazed terracotta (faïence) blocks, provided by the Burmantofts Pottery. The ground floor was divided into wide bays by columns, allowing separate entrances and exits, and also providing space for retail outlets.
The design also featured large semi-circular windows at first floor level (occasionally with circular oculi) and a heavy dentilatedcornice above. A broad strip between the two floors announced the name of the station in capital letters. The station buildings were constructed with flat roofs with the deliberate aim of encouraging commercial office development above, another benefit of the load-bearing structural steel frame.[2]
The interior was tiled in green and white, with decorative details. At platform level, the stations were provided with a standardised tiling design incorporating the station name, but with quickly identified individual colour schemes and geometric tile patterns formed in repeating panels along the platform length. Directional signs were also included in the tile designs. The tiled surfaces created a unifying theme, and proved easy to maintain.[2]
The railways were to open in 1906 and 1907, and Green was notified in June 1907 that the contract would be terminated at the end of that year. He was elected a Fellow of the RIBA in 1907, including details of his work for the UERL as part of his submission.[1]
Holborn The original station façades on Kingsway and High Holborn were uniquely of granite but were destroyed by 1930s replacements. The adjacent façades at ground and first floor of the building in which the station is situated were built to the same design using portland stone.
Strand – renamed Aldwych in 1915. Station closed in 1994, but building remains and has been restored to close to original appearance
Piccadilly Circus - rebuilt in the 1920s, building demolished in the 1990s
Dover Street – renamed Green Park and entrance relocated in 1933 and building demolished in the 1960s.
Down Street – station closed in 1932, but building remains
Hyde Park Corner – building is not used as station access after 2010
Knightsbridge - entrance relocated and main entrance demolished; facade of rear entrance at corner of Basil Street and Hoopers Court remained after new entrance was built and is incorporated into another building
Brompton Road – station closed in 1934 and mostly demolished although the side elevation remains
Northern line
Stations between Hampstead and Archway and Charing Cross inclusive constructed by CCE&HR with station buildings designed by Leslie Green:
