Historic Art Deco south London station restored following major two-year project

A south London Art Deco station has been restored following a major two-year project.

South Western Railway has completed a major restoration of Richmond station, returning the 1937 Art Deco landmark station to its former glory.

South Western Railway has completed a major restoration of Richmond station.(Image: South Western Railway)

The two-year project was carried out with the train company alongside partners including Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust.

The project entailed the restoration of the façade, canopy and ticket hall of the station, repairing its original features from when it was built nine decades ago.

The project entailed the restoration of the façade, canopy and ticket hall.(Image: South Western Railway)

The project began in late 2023 following a degradation of the railway station over the last few decades.

First opening in 1937, Richmond station was built by the Southern Railway team, led by chief architect James Robb Scott, and provided links to and from the city to places like Reading and London Waterloo.

The project has returned the 1937 Art Deco landmark station to its former glory.(Image: South Western Railway)

The two-phase project began with a deep cleansing of the Portland stone exterior, followed by the repair and polish of the tarnished bronze and mahogany entrance doors, and the reinstallation of the high-level station sign with the bronze lettering at the top of the façade.

Additional repairs were made including new flagpoles redeployed to their original position, flying the National Rail Double Arrow, and the use of period-appropriate paint colours to keep in with the buildings original appearance.

Additional repairs were made including the use of period-appropriate paint colours to keep in with the buildings original appearance.(Image: South Western Railway)

Further works were carried out to the entrance canopy and internal ticket hall with bronze fascia panels, handmade to original designs.

The roof also underwent a transformation with cladding and new rooflights created in the 1930s “Glasscrete” effect, and a lighting scheme to highlight the entrance canopy.

At night, a sympathetic lighting scheme now highlights both the entrance canopy and restored high-level lettering.

At night, a sympathetic lighting scheme now highlights both the entrance canopy and restored high-level lettering.(Image: Railway Heritage Trust & Nina Carrington)

Inside the ticket hall, missing sections of cladding and signage were replaced and restorations carried out to the woodwork.

To complete the revival, SWR installed a chandelier inspired by the original Art Deco light fitting along with new oak shopfronts for retail units, and retro 1930s posters to keep in with the theme.

Inside the ticket hall, missing sections of cladding and signage were replaced and restorations carried out to the woodwork.(Image: South Western Railway)

Chris Gregory, Asset Enhancement Manager for South Western Railway, said: “We are very proud of what has been achieved, bringing the station back to its original heritage condition and providing a fantastic gateway to Richmond.”

In mid-September 2025, the final elements of the multi-year project were officially unveiled.

This includes one of the original metal signs previously displayed outside the station, now in the booking hall, thanks to a loan by the London Transport Museum.