It was named after a posher neighbourhood so people wouldn’t mind having to go there
A historian has shared his perspective on why Clapham Junction is actually situated in Battersea, branding it as “a bit rubbish.”
If you’ve ever travelled into London from Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire, you’ve probably come across the vast network of Clapham Junction station.
Boasting 17 platforms and six junctions offering links throughout Southern England, it ranks among Europe’s most hectic railway hubs.
Yet, a stroll through the station shows that it’s hardly well-designed.
In contrast to the delightful atmosphere at Paddington, the station bridge at Clapham Junction falls short of expectations.
First-time users might be taken aback when traversing the grimy tunnel below the tracks, which transforms into pandemonium during peak hours, bank holidays, or match days at Stamford Bridge and Twickenham.
This mayhem is inevitable if you’re heading towards the Grant Road exit.
In a TikTok clip, @ali. unoriginal explained why the station has such a bewildering layout and why it bears the name of a location 1.4 miles distant.
Ali attributes it to “bad planning, history and capitalism.”
He explained: “There has been a railway there since 1838. By 1963 five different railway companies were using the interchange. That year, five companies got together to build Clapham Junction. It’s been a complete mess since then.
“They knew the area was definitely Battersea. Clapham used to be lovely, while Battersea wasn’t. It was a rural farming stead which the Victorians turned into a more working class area.
“Clapham was affluent, rich, hip and trendy. The station was named after Clapham to bluntly to attract people.”
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