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Great Northern Railway (GNR)

The Great Northern Railway (GNR) as it was then known was created from the amalgamation of two companies looking at constructing a route from London to the North: The Direct Northern & London & York Railway after several failed attempts by various organisations to construct a railway line from London, through the valleys to Cambridge and then further on to Yorkshire. The newly formed GNR presented its bill to parliament in late 1845 and passed on 22nd June 1846.

By the time the bill was passed the easiest routes out of London, roughly following the Roman roads Watling Street & Ermine Street already had railway lines therefore another route had to be decided upon. The route decided upon was one closely following The Great North Road. The Potters Bar Historical Series has an excellent paper on "The Railway Through Potters Bar" and is an excellent read.

Potters Bar & South Mimms Railway Station was not a planned site when plans for the Great Northern Railway were being considered, in fact the only stations planned between London & Hatfield were those at Hornsey, New Southgate & Barnet - The decision to construct a station here was taken in late 1849 and construction was still ongoing when the first trains ran through.
Train approaching Potters Bar

The route was opened from London to Peterborough on 8th August 1850 only 3 years after works first started. The contractor for this stretch was Thjomas Brassey (1805-1870)who worked on contracts for the Great Northern Railway from 1847-1851. After this time he worked on railway contracts abroad.

As would be expected, during contruction Potters Bar suffered much disruption and upheavel. Hundreds of railway workers set up campsnear to Dove Lane and Mutton Lane. A public house named 'The Railroad Inn' and referred to in 1884 as 'Formally known as The Pilot Engine Beer House' near to the camp site in Mutton Lane. The building still exists today as the Headquarters of the British Red Cross.

Considerable damage was caused to the local roads and Turnpike routes of Potters Bar by construction wagons. Because of this corresprondence was sent to the railway company advising them of rising rates to repair the damage caused. The trustees of the Ganwick Trust proposed a toll be constructed in Mutton lane to ensure the railways paid for the damaged caused along their route. No evidence exists to show this proposel was ever acted on.

The railway bridge on Mutton Lane near to where the Bridge Public House stands exists because of the railway. Prior to the railway line Mutton lane ran almost straight from the High Street to Darkes Lane. The route was diverted to cross the railway, the origional bridge was a narrow passing and the rise in road traffic made it necessary to add a side foot bridge for pedestrians. The traffic grew and the several accidents which occurred on the bride was evidence that a new bridge was needed. Work eventually began on the new bridge in the 1970's.


Darkes Lane, Potters Bar looking South towards Potters Bar Railway Station

The rural setting of Darkes Lane was sure to change following the railway station opening. Within a decade of the railway station construction started in the immediate vacinity however it was not until the 1920s that the Darkes Lane we know of today started to take shape. The building of Potters Bar Railway Station is the main factor for Potters Bars second shopping community and the reason 2 'High Streets' exist today.

Further topics on the Great Northern Railway
Potters Bar & South Mimms Railway Station
Rail Crashes