Richmond Station restored to 1930s Art Deco glory after multi-year project

The restoration of Richmond station to its early Art Deco grandeur has been completed, with original features repaired and lost features replicated in modern materials.

The Art Deco gem first opened in 1937, designed by the Southern Railway team led by chief architect James Robb Scott. In the decades since, alterations and weathering had degraded its elegant appearance and distinctive architectural details.

In partnership with Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and a range of contractors and craftspeople, SWR has now reversed that decline.

The project began in late 2023.

The two-phase plan to bring the busy South West London station back to life started with the renewal of the station’s façade and the deep cleaning of the Portland stone exterior. This was followed by the repair and polish of the tarnished bronze and mahogany entrance doors and the reinstallation of the high-level station sign; the bronze lettering at the top of the façade.

New flagpoles redeployed to their original position, flying the National Rail Double Arrow, and the use of period-appropriate paint colours, identified through specialist analysis, further enhanced the building’s authentic look.

In late 2024, attention turned to the second stage of the project, the entrance canopy and the internal ticket hall.

Bronze fascia panels, handmade to original designs, returned in place of the later cladding, while new rooflights recreated the 1930s “Glasscrete” effect. The bronze will naturally oxidise over time, resulting in a darker finish.

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

Inside the ticket hall, the removal of modern cladding revealed the original timber frieze and green glass signage, much of it intact. Missing sections were replaced, while the woodwork was also repolished.

To complete the revival, SWR has installed chandelier features inspired by the original Art Deco light fittings, new oak shopfronts for retail units, and retro poster frames with licensed 1930s artwork.

Perimeter LEDs now provide downlighting for the booking hall, while a combination of original and replica green glass signs, such as for enquiries or left luggage, have been brought back into view.

An original WH Smith sign has also been preserved.

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.