The lost station was found perched on an old viaduct above Rotherhithe New Road – where the original platforms and ticket hall were discovered.

Greg Thornett, who is managing the £6.5billion Thameslink Dive Under project, said the much of the station will remain intact even after the work is done.

He went on: "We uncovered the footings for the former platforms while we were preparing the top of the viaduct for new track and we are now working up in the roof space of the former ticket hall to fill in the old skylights, ready to carry the final track alignment.

"Much of the existing stretch of viaduct will be replaced by the ramps into and out of the new dive under, but the arch that used to house the old booking hall will remain."

Southwark Park station closed in 1915 after just 13 years in service.

It was one of several in the area, including Spa Road, which closed due the start the First World War.

London blogger Ian Mansfield claims the platforms had been known about for years but no one knew what state they were in.

He writes on his blog, Ian Visits: "The station, apart from being no longer there, does have one lingering claim to fame. The first signal box in the world was built here.”

"It was a mild surprise then to find the foundations still intact."

(dailystar.co.uk)