Ticket Hall And Shops At Hounslow West Underground Station

The ticket hall and shops at Hounslow West Underground Station, built in 1931 by Charles Holden with Stanley Heap as the supervising architect, are notable examples of early 20th-century architecture. The structure is made of reinforced concrete with a facing of Portland stone and granite at the front, while the rear is finished in brick.

The ticket hall features a heptagonal double-height drum, flanked by single-storey shops with raking ends. The shops retain their original timber casements and have metal windows at the ends. Access to the ticket hall is through double timber doors with horizontal glazing, which are flanked by bronze poster boards and sheltered by a long canopy with a coffered soffit. Inside, the ticket hall has a similarly designed ceiling, with a coved heptagon at the center from which hang seven heptagonal lights on a bronze chandelier, an original feature that is now unique. The walls are adorned with clerestorey glazing, with the front section featuring plain vertical glazing bars, while the other sides display the Underground roundel, with colored glass flanking the entrance. A continuous band of pink and cream tiling runs around the walls, over the kiosk and original integral telephone kiosks. The tiled floor features an eight-pointed star, which is also an original element. Additionally, there is a central rectangular timber bookstall that is part of the original design, complete with panelling and a cornice featuring a round 'Underground'-style motif.

The ticket hall is the only part of the station listed, as the remainder was rebuilt in 1975 on an adjacent site. It is accessed under a long steel shelter. The building is included in the heritage listing for its architectural richness, completeness, and striking form.