London Buses route 236
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 236 is a Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...

 contracted bus route in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The service is currently contracted to First Capital
First London
.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...

.

History

Today's 236 traces its history back to an "independently operated" route 263, which commenced operation on 1 April 1926 between London Fields
London Fields
London Fields is a park and the name of an area of London, situated in the eastern borough of Hackney. The park itself was first recorded in 1540. At this time it was common ground and was used by drovers to pasture their livestock before taking them to market in London.London Fields is just over ...

 and Leyton
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....

 (Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

 Cricket Ground
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...

) via Albion Road, Victoria Park Road, Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick is an area straddling the boundary between the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in east London. It is an inner-city development situated 5 miles northeast of Charing Cross...

, Eastway, Leyton, Grove Green Road. The service was operated by four small companies, Aro, F.N., Havelock, H.H.G.

The route has always had a rather zig - zag "back street feeling", resulting from "The Restricted Streets Order" under which it was started. On 1 December 1924, a new system of route numbering on London buses came into force under The London Traffic Act of 1924. This made the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...

 responsible for bus operation and route numbering in London. The new system was designed to make route numbering easier to understand for the traveling public. To stop overbussing of some routes by Independent operators, a restricted streets order was implemented. The 263 being a prime example of how the independents got around this order.

263 group routes at that time: 263 London Fields - Leyton (Essex Cricket Ground); 263A Leyton Town Hall - Leyton (Essex Cricket Ground).

From 6 February 1929, operation of the 263 was taken over by the London General Omnibus Company
London General Omnibus Company
The London General Omnibus Company or LGOC, was the principal bus operator in London between 1855 and 1933. It was also, for a short period between 1909 and 1912, a motor bus manufacturer.- Overview :...

 with the route being extended at both ends to run from Chingford
Chingford
Chingford is a district of north east London, bordering on Enfield and Edmonton to the west, Woodford to the east, Walthamstow and Stratford to the south and Essex to the north. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross and forms part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest...

 to Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park, London
Finsbury Park is an area in north London, England which grew up around an important railway interchange at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney...

. In that year, the vehicle allocation on the route increased from 11 to 19 buses, indicating how well used it had become.

263 group routes: 263 Finsbury Park station
Finsbury Park station
Finsbury Park Station is a busy transport interchange in North London. The interchange consists of an interconnected National Rail station, London Underground station and two bus stations. The main entrances are by the eastern bus station on Station Place...

 - Chingford (Royal Forest Hotel); 263A Finsbury Park station - Leyton (Essex Cricket Ground); 263B Finsbury Park station
Finsbury Park station
Finsbury Park Station is a busy transport interchange in North London. The interchange consists of an interconnected National Rail station, London Underground station and two bus stations. The main entrances are by the eastern bus station on Station Place...

 - Chingford Mount. The 263A becoming the main Monday - Saturday route, with the 263B operating on Sundays. The plain 263 route number was never seen, being only used for journeys for the whole length of the registered route, which never ran. As from 14 December 1932. the route was shortened to run as plain 263 between Finsbury Park (Rock Street) and Leyton (Essex Cricket Ground). The suffixed routes being withdrawn at this time.

This situation remained until 3 October 1934, when the newly constituted London Passenger Transport Board
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...

 instituted its own numbering system. From this date the route was renumbered 236, all single-deck bus operated routes being numbered 200+ in this numbering scheme. The routing of the 236 remained the same as the 263 between Finsbury Park (Rock Street) and Leyton (High Road) as the terminus was now known, 17 vehicles were needed to provide the service. This was the second time that the route number 236, had been used in London.

On 23 February 1938, the 236 was extended on Monday - Saturdays from Finsbury Park to Stroud Green
Stroud Green
Stroud Green may refer to:* Stroud Green, Berkshire* Stroud Green, Essex* Stroud Green, Gloucestershire* Stroud Green, London...

, replacing the withdrawn route 238 over that section. Wartime economies led to reductions over this section and by the end of hostilities in 1945, buses ran on to Stroud Green only during Monday to Saturday peak times, 23/24 vehicles were allocated to the route at this time. After 12 February 1955, the Saturday Stroud Green service was also withdrawn.

The early 1960s saw many route changes on London's Buses, due to the introduction of the then fashionable "Area schemes" which were largely the result of scheduling limitations that occurred when the "five-day week" for bus crews was introduced. As from 3 March 1963, the 236 was withdrawn on Sundays, being replaced by 210
London Buses route 210
London Buses route 210 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. This service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...

 which was extended to Leyton (High Road), running Golders Green
Golders Green
Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. Although having some earlier history, it is essentially a 19th century suburban development situated about 5.3 miles north west of Charing Cross and centred on the crossroads of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.In the...

 - Leyton on that day.

In 1968 in connection with the opening of the Victoria Line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...

, a large scale re-organisation of London's buses was implemented, the first stage of which occurred on 7 September 1968. The 236 was withdrawn at this time, between Leytonstone Station
Leytonstone tube station
Leytonstone tube station is on the Central Line of the London Underground, on the boundary of Zones 3 and 4. Towards London the next station is Leyton, while going east from Leytonstone, the line divides into two branches...

 and Leyton (High Road) except for garage journeys onward to Leyton Green. It was replaced over this section by newly introduced route 235.

As part of the reshaping plan of London's Buses which had been proceeding since 1966, increasing numbers of routes were converted to one-person-operation. As from 24 January 1970, route 210 between Finsbury Park and Golders Green
Golders Green tube station
Golders Green tube station is a London Underground station in Golders Green, north London. The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line between Hampstead and Brent Cross...

 was also converted. It was felt at the time, that the route was too busy on Sundays for one person operation, due to the large numbers of passengers traveling to Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...

 on that day. Consequently, the 236 was extended on Sundays to Golders Green and route 210 withdrawn completely on that day, which was a complete reversal of the previous situation.

The ongoing "Reshaping plan" caught up with the 236 in 1971. On 17 April 1971, the 236 was converted to one-person-operation and substantially revised. The service along Victoria Park Road was withdrawn and the 236 was re-routed via Morning Lane to serve Hackney Central
Hackney Central
Hackney Central is the central district of the London Borough of Hackney in London, England. It comprises the area roughly surrounding, and extending north from Mare Street. It is situated north east of Charing Cross...

 and Mare Street. Monday - Friday peak time services via Hackney Wick were also introduced at this time. The 236 Sunday extension to Golders Green was also withdrawn and returned to the 210. The 236 was the last Crew operated single-deck route in London.

In 1982, in an effort to increase use of the route, as well as improving connections with other routes, the 236 was re-routed to serve Newington Green
Newington Green
Newington Green is an open space in north London which straddles the border between Islington and Hackney. It gives its name to the surrounding area, roughly bounded by Ball's Pond Road to the south, Petherton Road to the west, the southern section of Stoke Newington with Green Lanes-Matthias Road...

 as from 24 April. Later in that year, the route reached its low-point, being severely reduced to only 10 buses. The routing was simplified to operate Finsbury Park to Leytonstone Station, the Stroud Green & Hackney Wick extensions disappearing.

An upturn occurred in 1987 when as from 6 June. the route was extended from Leytonstone Station to Walthamstow Central Station, being further extended on Sundays as from 18 October to Chingford Station via Highams Park
Highams Park
Highams Park is a district in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, England, adjacent to Epping Forest. The forest at Highams Park contains a boating lake formed by Humphry Repton after damming the River Ching. There are parks and basic shopping facilities such as Budgens, but no major supermarket...

 to replace 212
London Buses route 212
London Buses route 212 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to CT Plus.-History:...

 on that day, a return of the route to Chingford after 55 years! The extension was not very long-lived as the route was severely cut back as from 19 November 1988 to run between Finsbury Park and Hackney Wick, being covered between Hackney Wick and Walthamstow Central by newly introduced route W15 and between Walthamstow Central and Chingford by the 212 which was re-introduced on Sundays.

Since 1988 the route has remained very stable, apart for a small re-routing in the Newington Green area on 27 May 1989. The most recent changes occurred in 2003, when the 236 became a 24 hour service, quite an achievement for a route that started out as a "back street run"!

Current route

  • Hackney Wick
    Hackney Wick
    Hackney Wick is an area straddling the boundary between the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in east London. It is an inner-city development situated 5 miles northeast of Charing Cross...

     Eastway
  • Lee Conservancy Road
  • Homerton Road
  • Marsh Hill
  • Homerton High Street Hackney Hospital
  • Brooksby’s Walk
  • Homerton Grove Homerton Hospital
  • Wardle Street
  • Homerton High Street for Homerton Station
    Homerton railway station
    Homerton railway station is in the London Borough of Hackney in east London. It is on the North London Line, and the station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground...

     
  • Ponsford Street
  • Morning Lane
  • Vallette Street
  • Paragon Road
  • Hackney
    Hackney Central
    Hackney Central is the central district of the London Borough of Hackney in London, England. It comprises the area roughly surrounding, and extending north from Mare Street. It is situated north east of Charing Cross...

     Town Hall
  • Mare Street
  • Westgate Street
  • London Fields
    London Fields
    London Fields is a park and the name of an area of London, situated in the eastern borough of Hackney. The park itself was first recorded in 1540. At this time it was common ground and was used by drovers to pasture their livestock before taking them to market in London.London Fields is just over ...

  • Lansdowne Drive
  • Tredewen Road
  • Brougham Road
  • Pownall Road
  • Queensbridge Road
  • Dalston Lane
  • Ridley Road
  • St Mark's Rise
  • Downs Park Road
  • Shacklewell Lane
  • Dalston
    Dalston
    Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...

  • Crossways
  • Boleyn Road
  • Mathias Road
  • Newington Green
    Newington Green
    Newington Green is an open space in north London which straddles the border between Islington and Hackney. It gives its name to the surrounding area, roughly bounded by Ball's Pond Road to the south, Petherton Road to the west, the southern section of Stoke Newington with Green Lanes-Matthias Road...

  • Newington Green Road
  • Beresford Road
  • Petherton Road
  • Canonbury Station
    Canonbury railway station
    Canonbury railway station serves the district of Canonbury within the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is on London Overground's North London Line and East London Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground, and the station is in Travelcard Zone 2...

  • Grosvenor Road
  • Highbury New Park
  • Highbury
    Highbury
    - Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...

  • Highbury Barn Tavern
  • Highbury Grove
  • Highbury Park
  • Blackstock Road
    Blackstock Road
    Blackstock Road is a major road in north London, England, running from Seven Sisters Road south westerly to Highbury. It runs along the border between the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Islington...

  • Rock Street
  • Finsbury Park Station
    Finsbury Park station
    Finsbury Park Station is a busy transport interchange in North London. The interchange consists of an interconnected National Rail station, London Underground station and two bus stations. The main entrances are by the eastern bus station on Station Place...

     Station Place

Previous route 236s in London

The route number 236 had been used once prior to its current use.
  • In 1929 for a Swiss Cottage
    Swiss Cottage
    Swiss Cottage is a district of the London Borough of Camden in London, England. Thedistrict is located north-west of Charing Cross. It is centred on the junction of Avenue Road and Finchley Road and is the location of Swiss Cottage tube station.-Etymology:...

     to Farnborough
    Farnborough, London
    Farnborough is a settlement in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a suburban development located 13.4 miles southeast of Charing Cross.-History:...

    route.

External links

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