Jump to content

Tetbury railway station

Coordinates: 51°38′11″N 2°09′21″W / 51.6363°N 2.1558°W / 51.6363; -2.1558
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tetbury
General information
LocationTetbury, Cotswold
England
Platforms1
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyGreat Western Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
1889opened
1964closed

Tetbury railway station was the terminus station on the Tetbury branch line, serving the Gloucestershire town of Tetbury.

History

[edit]

The station was a typical Great Western Railway building, with a wide canopy stretching across the platform.[1] The original station building was constructed from wood. By 1913 it was in need of rebuilding and was completed in brick over the next 3 years.[2]

In 1908, confusion between Tetbury railway station and Tetbury Road railway station (6.5 miles (10.5 km) north-east on the Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway) led to the latter being renamed Coates railway station. Prior to the name change, both stations had taken erroneous delivery of the other's goods.[2]

In 1926, the use of the station's signal box was discontinued when the points began to be operated from a ground frame by the engineman.[2] In 1930, the platform was extended to allow horses to be transported to and from the Beaufort Polo Club in nearby Westonbirt.[2]

In 1963, an entire Tetbury farm – complete with machinery, foodstuffs, staff and pedigree herd of Hereford cattle – was transported from the station to Stranraer in 31 vehicles.[2]

On 4 April 1964, the Tetbury branch line was closed as part of the Beeching Axe. The railway line and main station building were later demolished, with sleepers being used in pathways. The area was subsequently converted into a car park. In 2016 the Staffordshire blue brick goods shed was converted into an arts centre in a joint programme by Tetbury Town Council and Tetbury Rail Lands Regeneration Trust (TRLRT).[1][3][4]

Stationmasters

[edit]
  • John William Boyd 1889 - 1900[5] (afterwards station master at Kemble)
  • Edward James Faulkner 1900 - 1908[6] (afterwards station master at Brimscombe)
  • Henry F. Hawker 1908 - 1917 (formerly station master at Newent, afterwards station master at Stonehouse)
  • G.A.R. Johns 1917 - 1928[7] (afterwards station master at Lydney)
  • Alexander Brinkworth 1928 - 1932
  • R. Stephens from 1932
  • Henry Harris 1935 - 1949[8] (afterwards station master at Llandilo)

Use

[edit]

The line's primary economy was livestock.[2] A cattle market was built adjacent to the station, and the line's freight generally consisted of food for livestock, milk, and coal.[2] The GloucestershireWiltshire border was such that livestock would pass from one county to another on entering the station – with different swine fever regulations in place between the counties, the station would experience lengthy delays before livestock could be trucked into and out of the station.[2]

Route

[edit]
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Trouble House Halt
Line and station closed
  Great Western Railway
Tetbury branch line
  Terminus

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Atterbury, Paul (2006). Branch Line Britain. Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. p. 130. ISBN 0-7153-2416-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lloyd, David (1981). "Cirencester and Tetbury Branches". me&im. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  3. ^ "Tetbury Rail Shed Restoration". Friends of the Cotswolds. 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Tetbury Rail Rail Lands Regeneration Trust".
  5. ^ "Tetbury". Gloucester Citizen. England. 4 May 1900. Retrieved 27 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "News in Brief". Stroud News and Gloucestershire Advertiser. England. 10 January 1908. Retrieved 27 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "New Lydney Stationmaster". Gloucester Citizen. England. 22 February 1929. Retrieved 27 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Tetbury Railwayman Promoted". Western Daily Press. England. 5 October 1949. Retrieved 27 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.

51°38′11″N 2°09′21″W / 51.6363°N 2.1558°W / 51.6363; -2.1558