The London Underground station now known as Preston Road, a Metropolitan line stop between Northwick Park and Wembley Park, was originally called Preston Road Halt for Uxendon and Kenton when it opened in 1908. The unwieldy name was eventually shortened to the more practical Preston Road, reflecting a broader pattern of station renames across the network.
A 160-Year History of Renaming
The Underground, now more than 160 years old, has undergone countless transformations since the Metropolitan Railway first launched between Paddington and Farringdon in 1863. The early 20th century brought numerous new stations, including the one in North West London within the Wembley area.
Preston Road was not alone in shedding its original name. Bank, the sprawling interchange, was formerly known as City. Euston Square was Gower Street, Acton Town was Mill Hill Park, and Fulham Broadway was Walham Green. Charing Cross was Trafalgar Square, while Marylebone was Great Central, a name that proved too ambiguous.
St Paul's and the Post Office Connection
Perhaps the strangest rename involved St Paul's, which was originally called Post Office. The name was presumably changed for obvious reasons, given the cathedral's prominence. Chiswick Park was also renamed to reduce confusion for those unfamiliar with West London.
Acton boasts eight stations in total: five Tube stations, two Overground stations, and one Elizabeth line station. One existing Tube station in the area, which opened in 1878, was named Acton Green after the nearby common of the same name.
Acton Green Becomes Chiswick Park
Acton Green was renamed to Chiswick Park and Acton Green in March 1887. Later, 'Acton Green' was dropped, leaving the station as simply Chiswick Park. The change was likely for the best, given the abundance of stations still called Acton.
Adding to the confusion, Chiswick Park station is actually nearer to Turnham Green than Turnham Green station itself. The renames reflect a practical approach to naming, prioritising clarity over historical quirks.
