Hidden beneath the streets of London lies Paxton Tunnel a testament to a bygone era. This isn’t just any tunnel. It’s a relic of the Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway a line that once connected the magnificent Crystal Palace to Nunhead.
Paxton Tunnel isn’t just one name. It’s also known as the Sydenham tunnel or even Upper Norwood or Nunhead depending on who you ask and when you ask them. Confusing I know. Built between 1865 and 1884 the 439-yard long double-bored tunnel served a railway line that was intended to handle the crowds visiting the Great Exhibition. The exhibition moved from Hyde Park in 1852. The Crystal Palace itself went with it. The entire structure was rebuilt in Sydenham.
The line Paxton Tunnel served was ambitious. It had a 1 in 78 gradient quite steep for its time. This gradient included the two tunnels Paxton and its sister tunnel Crescent Wood. The railway was never a huge financial success. Its route passed through beautiful but sparsely populated areas. This meant not many people used the line. The line closed and reopened several times. The destruction of the Crystal Palace by fire in 1936 sealed its fate.
The railway line finally closed in 1954. There were plans to use the route for the Bakerloo Line extension. These plans were abandoned. Now much of the old railway is nature reserves or public parks. Paxton Tunnel and Crescent Wood are sealed shut by heavy steel doors. There are high fences in front of them too except for one portal. This was done in the 1980s after several local children went missing. Police searched the tunnels. Residents’ fears led to the tunnels being sealed. Small grilles at the top allow ventilation.
Today you can easily see the tunnel portals. They are in modern housing estates. You can’t go inside them though. Paxton Tunnel’s northern portal is near Westwood Hill. The southern portal is near Crystal Palace Parade and College Road. Paxton Tunnel a silent witness to London’s history. A reminder of grand plans and ambitious projects. A secret hidden beneath the city’s bustling streets.