ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2010/11

RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST · ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2010/11

1 RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST 2011

The Trust publishes an Annual Report for four specific purposes:� to publish its Accounts;� to illustrate the projects to which its grants have been awarded;� to acknowledge the financial contribution made to projects by external partners;� to acknowledge the contribution made to the development and delivery of projects

by sponsors, consultants and contractors.

We have a wider purpose too. Britain’s railway heritage deserves every opportunitythat can be taken to make its quality and diversity better known. So our illustratedproject reports also serve to attract potential new partners to work with us in thisimportant and challenging field.

Front cover: Ridgmont StationInside front cover: Newcastle Station railingsInside back cover: Bath Spa Station canopyBack cover: Brighton: Trafalgar Street mural

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Photography:Specially commissioned from Paul Childs atSpheroview Ltd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Other photographs as individually credited

The Trust is grateful to the following individualsand organisations for permission to publishphotographs:John Ives, Potts Parry Ives + YoungBernard PrattSteelwayAdrian Stewart, DO-Architecture Ltd

Research and text by Andy Savage & MalcolmWood, with assistance from Claire PicktonDesign by Geoffrey WadsleyPrinted in England by Ian Allan (Printing) Ltd,Hersham, Surrey KT12 4RG

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2010/11 CONTENTS

Chairman’s Statement 3The Hon Sir William McAlpine Btintroduces the Report; reflects on thecelebration of the Trust’s twenty-fifthanniversary; notes the resilience ofthe Trust’s grant programme and theimplementation of major capital railprojects despite the retrenchment ofgovernment expenditure; remarks onthe Trust’s improved relationshipswith train operating companies; notesthe retirement of Iain Coucher fromNetwork Rail and welcomes hissuccessor, David Higgins; confirms hisappreciation for Network Rail’sguaranteed funding for the Trust toMarch 2019 and considers the impactof the imminent disbanding of BRB(Residuary) Ltd and offers thanks forits long-standing support.

Review of Projects 4-29Reports on the Trust’s grant-aidedprojects, including: work to asignificant bridge in London,illumination of a major viaduct,restorations and conversionsproviding improved passenger andcommunity facilities, war memorialrepairs, heritage fencing, andfeasibility studies, including one forrailway-related gravestones.

National Railway Heritage Awards 29The Railway Heritage Trust Award for2010 is won by Brading Town Councilfor the refurbishment of BradingStation and the former signal box.

Grants and ExternalContributions 30-31A detailed list of grants awarded andexternal partners’ contributions.

The Trust’s Accounts 32A summary of the audited accounts.

Bath Spa Station: interior of historic lift

RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST · OFFICERS AND ADVISORY PANEL 31st March 2011

RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST 2011 2

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Chairman: The Hon Sir William McAlpine BtExecutive Director: Andy Savage Director: Marcus Binney

ADMINISTRATION

Company Secretary: Malcolm WoodPersonal Assistant: Claire Pickton

ADVISORY PANEL

Robert Baldwin Bernard KaukasGordon Biddle David LawrenceJohn Boyle Chris LeahTimothy Bryan Candida Lycett GreenAnthony Byrne Geoff MannProfessor Dugald Cameron John MartinJim Cornell Vernon MurphySir Neil Cossons Frank PatersonIan Hay Davison Oliver PearceyLord Faulkner of Worcester Dr John Prideaux*Dr William Fawcett Malcolm ReedChristopher Fildes Simon RiggeChris Green Martin RobertsonChristopher Heaps Paul SimonsCharles Howeson John SnellStanley Hurn Sir James SwaffieldSir Simon Jenkins Dame Margaret Weston

* Appointed to the Advisory Panel during 2010/11

Jonathan Glancey & Sir Howard Newby resigned from the Advisory Panel during the year.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ADVISORY PANEL

The Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel took place on 7th October 2010.Members were given presentations on ‘Caring for Stations’ by Chris Green, fellowPanel Member and joint author of the report ‘Better Rail Stations’, on ‘Improvingour Stations’ by Mike Goggin, Director, Stations & Customer Service, Network Rail,and on ‘Kings Cross Station Redevelopment Programme’ by Ian Fry, ProgrammeDirector, Kings Cross, Network Rail.

Great Malvern Station: replacement light column

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT


Last year I mentioned our pleasureat the Trust reaching twenty fiveyears of age. To mark the

celebration of our silver jubilee, inOctober 2010 we rededicated ‘our’power car, 43 189, at Didcot. We weredelighted to be joined by representativesof all our sponsors, and particularly bytwo past Chairmen of British Rail, SirBob Reid and John Welsby. We also hadsix of the nine employees that have everworked for the Trust present, with JimCornell, Richard Tinker and RichardHorne all able to join us. We are mostgrateful to Mark Hopwood, and his staffat First Great Western, for arranging thereplacement of the nameplate on thepower car and the ceremony, and fortheir hospitality.

we drew in an average of £1.37 inexternal funding, compared with ouraverage of £1.20 over the first twentyfive years of our life.The industry itself has also had an

interesting year. On the one hand, theworst of the recession seems to be over,and passenger traffic has resumed itssteady climb. This has combined with anever-improving punctuality and safetyrecord. On the other hand, politicaluncertainty with the new governmenthas raised concern about the futuredirection of the railway. The Secretary ofState has, fortunately, made thegovernment’s on-going support of railclear; despite the retrenchment ofgovernment expenditure, major capitalrail projects have held up well, with

The Chairman unveils a plaque for the island platform at Chester Station

where we had done little work in recentyears. We still find that some TOC staffare not aware of the Trust, and the workthat it does for the industry, but this is adecreasing issue.Regarding our funders, we note Iain

Coucher’s retirement from Network Rail,and wish him well. He was key tobringing stability back to the industry. I am pleased to see that his successor,David Higgins, continues to support theTrust in the style of his predecessors,and am delighted at his decision toguarantee the Trust’s funding fromNetwork Rail for a further five yearsbeyond our previously agreed limit ofMarch 2014, giving us financial stabilityuntil the end of March 2019. There arefew companies who can face their futurewith the confidence that we now can,and we are immensely grateful to himand his colleagues.Our future relationship with BRB

(Residuary) Ltd is more problematic. The government announced in October2010 that it was to be disbanded by theend of 2012 as part of plans to reducethe number of quangos. Clearly itsresponsibilities for historic structurescannot go away, and we understandthese duties are to be transferred to theHighways Agency in the Department forTransport. We will be discussing withthe Agency whether the Trust can be ofhelp in the future, but for now we offerour thanks to our friends in BRB(Residuary) Ltd for their on-goingsupport of the Trust over many years.Finally, as ever, can I thank the Trust’s

staff for their continued dedication to itsinterests. Claire Pickton continues tokeep the Trust’s administration in orderand Andy Savage and Malcolm Woodare both well-settled in and maintainingthe standards of their predecessors.Without their on-going support theTrust could not achieve its objectives.It is my pleasure to present the twenty

sixth Annual Report and Accounts ofthe Railway Heritage Trust.

The Hon Sir William McAlpine BtChairmanLondonJuly 2011

Malcolm

Wood

2010/11 was an interesting year forthe Trust. We saw the early effects of thegovernment’s cutting back onexpenditure, and several major projectswere delayed as a result. Fortunately wewere able to move several 2011/12grants forward to ensure that we spentall our available funding. We also saw achange in the size of projects that wefunded, with an increase in the numberof small projects. As a result, 2010/11was the year with the highest number ofgrants ever made by the Trust. Despitethis we held, and even slightly increased,the proportion of external funding thatwe attracted to our projects. For everypound of grant that the Trust awarded

confirmation of Crossrail, the GreatWestern and North Westernelectrification projects, and the revisedSuper Express Train project.The government has also made it clear

that the industry must do more tocontrol its costs. Sir Roy McNulty’sreport on this issue has mapped out thechallenge and how to address it.However, and happily, we have seen on-going support for the work of the Trust.We now have projects running withalmost all of the train operatingcompanies (TOCs), and are particularlyglad to be redeveloping our relationshipswith First Capital Connect and withNational Express East Anglia, both TOCs

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


QUEENSTOWN ROADSTATION

The London & South Western Railwayopened the station at Queen’s Road,Battersea on 1st November 1877. Thecurrent station was remodelled in 1907in a distinctly Edwardian style withaccess from the main entrance via ashort subway, followed by a steepstaircase which led to the platforms.

Renamed Queenstown Road in 1980,

the station is now operated by SouthWest Trains, and the Trust joined withthe company in supporting works torefurbish the booking hall following theintroduction of automatic gates. Thescheme included restoration of the ticketoffice frontage and minor works toenable the former ticket office to be let asa cafeteria. A new, deeper window was

inserted to the street elevation toincrease daylight in the space, but theoriginal counter, parquet floor and somecabinets were all retained.

The booking hall was redecorated inSouthern Railway green and cream, andthe subway was relined with glazed tilesto match those originally installed. Theresult is a very satisfactorytransformation of a small, butsignificant station.

Sponsor: South West Trains, LondonArchitect: Robinson Kenning & Gallagher,

Croydon, SurreyProject Management: The Trevor Patrick

Partnership, LondonContractor: Walker Construction (UK) Ltd,

Folkestone, Kent

BROMSGROVE: LOCOMEN’SGRAVES

Bromsgrove lies at the foot of the LickeyHills, and when William Moorsom builtthe Birmingham & Gloucester Railwayin 1840/1, he took a direct route toclimb the hills, installing a two-milebank of 1 in 37 that was a majorproblem for railway operators until theend of the age of steam. Throughout thesteam era locomotives were located atBromsgrove to provide extra power upthe bank. An early, experimental lococalled ‘Surprise’ was built by a DrWilliam Church of Birmingham, andwas tried out before the line up theLickey Bank was opened. It was not asuccess, and its boiler exploded on 10thNovember 1840, killing both membersof its crew, Thomas Scaife and JosephRutherford.

Both Rutherford and Scaife wereburied in St John’s Churchyard atBromsgrove, and in 1842 their

workmates paid to erect headstones overthe graves. The headstones havesurvived, and are covered by the Grade Ilisting of the Church. Sadly, the graveswere vandalised in 1952, with Scaife’sbeing particularly badly damaged. Sincethen the headstones have been restoredat least three times, but they are againdeteriorating. In 2010 St John’s Churchapproached the Trust for help; wefunded a detailed feasibility study of therestoration of the graves, including theidentification of historical errors thathad been made in earlier restorations.The Trust is now working with theChurch, and seeking support from otherassociated bodies, to fund the restorationof both graves to a condition that ishistorically accurate, and should allowtheir survival for many years to come.

Sponsor: St John’s Church, Bromsgrove,Worcestershire

Consultant: Nimbus Conservation Ltd, Frome,Somerset

Current view of locomen’s graves

Left: Interior of converted ticket officeInset: Frontage with lowered windowAbove: Interior of refurbished booking hall

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


NEWCASTLE STATION

The Trust has repeatedly supportedworks at the Grade I listed NewcastleStation, and has awarded almost amillion and a quarter pounds in grantsover the last twenty five years. Althoughwe currently have no major projects inhand here, the introduction of a gatedbarrier line has given a series ofchallenges to the station’s operator.

National Express East Coast, theformer operator of the East Coast MainLine, and hence of Newcastle Station,approached the Trust about the need toprovide a long fence at the south end ofthe station in order to prevent access tothe platforms without going through theticket barrier gates. The Trust was happyto fund the additional cost of making acast-iron fence in a heritage style, ratherthan a cheaper, modern design thatwould not have fitted with the rest of thestation. National Express East Coastinstalled the fence in 2009, but theTrust did not make its grant for the workuntil the financial year 2010/11.

CUPAR STATION

Cupar is the county town of Fife, andwas the original northern terminus ofthe 1847 Edinburgh & NorthernRailway (E&NR). The station wasdesigned, as with most of the E&NRstations, by David Bell: its symmetricallayout and size make it one of the mostimpressive stations in Fife. The mainbuilding, on the northbound platform, is

built in grey ashlar, and its layout isvirtually unaltered since opening. Thebuilding is mainly single-storey, but ithas three two-storey sections, over thebooking hall in the centre, and at thenorth and south extremities.

The two-storey section at the northend of the stationcontains the formerstationmaster’s flat,which has not beenused for many years.A local groupproposed to restorethis part of theproperty as a localmuseum, and soughtsupport from theTrust and the ScottishGovernment’sStations CommunityRegeneration Fund. Delays in sortingout lease issues have led to a very latestart on this project, but sufficient workhas been done for the Trust to accountfor it in 2010/11, with the rest of thework being carried out at the start of2011/12.

Sponsor: Cupar Heritage, Cupar, FifeArchitect: Johnston Kidd Architects, Cupar, FifeContractor: David Finlay (Building Contractors)

Ltd, Kingskettle, Fife

Sponsor: National Express East Coast, YorkFencing: Smith & Co (South Shields) Ltd,

Acklington, NorthumberlandContractor: Serco Group plc, Hook, Hampshire

Above: General view of new railings

Above: General view of station buildingsBelow & inset: Rooms under refurbishmentRight: Detail of windows

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED

The Trust has long supported a varietyof works at Berwick-upon-Tweed, whereRobert Stephenson linked the railsystems of England and Scotland in1850. The Trust has focussed its grantson both the station and the Royal BorderBridge, mainly on the passenger facilitiesof the former, and the structuralrestoration of the latter. With both thestation and the bridge now in areasonably good general condition, theTrust has been able to support twoprojects that will have longer-termbenefits for the area.

Firstly, the Trust made a majorinvestment in an electronic illuminationof the Royal Border Bridge. This scheme,using Light Emitting Diodes in everyspan of the bridge, has enabled it to be litup in varying, and changing, colours,increasing the attractiveness of thisiconic structure. Unusually for a viaductlighting scheme, the curvature of therailway as it approaches the structureallows passengers on trains from thesouth to see the illuminations.

Berwick Station was built on the siteof the ancient Berwick Castle, andStephenson and his team used much ofthe stone from the castle in itsconstruction. As a result the station siteis enclosed at its south end by theremnants of the castle’s old west wall. In this area Network Rail or itspredecessors built a complex of portablebuildings for the local track gang. Thiscluster of buildings detracts from theremains of the castle, and the Trust hashelped Northumberland County Councilto fund a feasibility study into therelocation of the accommodation. Thisstudy has identified an alternativelocation, but service alterations make

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

moving the cabins expensive, so until theCounty can find a source of funding (tobuild on the committed support from theTrust) it is unlikely that this much-needed project will proceed.

Royal Border Bridge IlluminationSponsor: Northumberland County Council,

Morpeth, NorthumberlandContractor: Floodlighting and Electrical Services

Ltd, Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon TafDesigner: DO-Architecture Ltd, Glasgow

Relocation of Permanent Way Cabins: Feasibility StudySponsor: Northumberland County Council,

Morpeth, NorthumberlandConsultant: Network Rail London North Eastern,

York


Above: Royal Border Bridge under a ‘big’ skyInset: The bridge illuminatedBelow: Remnants of the castle wall

MALVERN LINK STATION

Malvern Link and Great Malvern are thetwo survivors of the three stationsdesigned by E W Elmslie for theWorcester & Hereford Railway. AtMalvern Link only the former stationhouse still exists, but the ragstone

masonry and general style and detailsare evidence enough of Elmslie’s work.

The route became part of the GreatWestern Railway (GWR), and for manyyears the cast-iron posts which formerlycarried the GWR running-in boardshave stood bare and forlorn at the endsof the platforms. The Trust has joinedwith Malvern Town Council and LondonMidland to take an opportunity toprovide new GWR-style boards andbring some heritage context back to thestation.

Sponsor: London Midland, BirminghamContractor: Steelway, Wolverhampton, West

Midlands

Left: One of the newly-installed running-in boards

Inset:

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STOKE-ON-TRENT STATION

The North Staffordshire Railway openedthe station at Stoke-on-Trent in 1848 tothe designs of H A Hunt. The originalstation was flanked by two entrancepavilions with large, round-headedwindows set in a classic elevationbeneath steep roofs with scalloped,decorative clay tiles, filigree ridges andcurved gables in a Jacobean style.

The upside entrance, fronting WintonSquare, is well known, but the downsideentrance building, fronting the formergoods yard which has recently beenconverted into a car park, is less familiar.

The downside entrance building hadbeen gradually subsumed into acollection of additional buildings, butNetwork Rail undertook to restore thisstructure, with strengthening work to

the flank walls of the train shed. Thescheme, which the Trust supported,involved removing some of the lessappealing extensions to reveal theformer footprint of the entrance building,and the complete restoration of the roof.Work included repairs to the gables,replacement of missing tiles and ridgetiles, works to the windows, anddrainage of the building. The result hasbeen a successful reclamation of theoriginal structure.

Sponsor: Network Rail London North Western,Manchester

Designer: White Young Green, YorkContractor: Murphy Group, Cannock,

Staffordshire

LEICESTER STATION

London Road Station in Leicester datesback to 1840, when the MidlandCounties Railway line from Rugby toDerby opened. The present building,dating from 1895, was the first ofCharles Trubshaw’s three great stations,the other two being Nottingham andSheffield Midland. The Midland Railwaybuilt all three at the turn of the 19th to20th century as part of its reaction tothe threat of the new Great CentralRailway: each featured a large porte-cochère, but otherwise the designs of thethree buildings were very different. AtLeicester the Neo-Classical style featuresa combination of red brick, pinksandstone, and terracotta, which allcome together to give a pleasing whole.

British Rail demolished the platformbuildings of Trubshaw’s station in 1982,but the frontage building survives and isGrade II listed. The Trust has previouslysupported work at the station,particularly with the clock tower, andgave a small grant this year to restoresome blocked windows at the rear of theporte-cochère, both allowing a view ofthe trains below, and restoring originalfeatures of the station.

Sponsor: Network Rail London North Eastern,York

Contractor: May Gurney Integrated Services plc,York

Below: The refurbished building at StokeInset: Detail of restored stonework

Above: Detail of window to porte-cochère atLeicester

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

LINCOLN CENTRAL STATION

Lincoln Central Station was built by theGreat Northern Railway in 1848, to thedesigns of J H Taylor. It is constructed inyellow brick with stone dressings, in aTudor style. The original design has beenheavily modified throughout its life.

Caterleisure Ltd has provided a buffetfacility on the station in its caféxpressbrand for some years. This facility, in thedownside building, involved a lot ofinterference with the originallayout of the building, andpassenger waiting and buffet areaswere intermingled, leading tosecurity problems for Caterleisureat times when its facility wasclosed, while the station remainedopen.

The closure of the station’stravel centre, located between theCaterleisure and waiting area andthe station entrance, presented anopportunity to improve both thepassengers’ facilities and theheritage ambience of the station.Caterleisure relocated its facilitiesinto the approximate area of theold travel centre, which allowedboth the total separation of thewaiting and buffet facilities, andthe removal of many of theinterior partitions installed overthe years.

The Trust made a small award to thisproject in recognition of theimprovements to the heritage of thestation that resulted. The Trustparticularly noted the removal ofinappropriate modern partitions, the

WESTENHANGER STATION

The former station house atWestenhanger was refurbished last yearwith the first part of a two-year grant toundertake works to bring the interior toa lettable condition. The second granthas assisted with the completion of anuprating of the services to the building,bringing it up to 21st century standards.

As we reported last year, the two-storey building dates from 1861 and wasoriginally constructed by the SouthEastern Railway as an addition to theoriginal station of 1844. The buildingwill benefit from being occupied and theTrust hopes that, with the remedialwork now completed, a new tenant willbe found to inject life back into this fineconversion.

Sponsor: Network Rail Commercial Property,London

Drainage Design: Wendage Pollution Control Ltd,Liphook, Hampshire

Contractor: Geoffrey Osborne Ltd, London

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


restoration of damaged coving in theaffected areas, and the provision of newmatching coving where the originalshad been removed.

Sponsor: Caterleisure Ltd, Bradford, WestYorkshire

Architect: GIA Ltd, YorkContractor: Total Design Shopfitting Services Ltd,

Eastleigh, Hampshire

Below: Interior of refurbished buffetInset: View from forecourt

Above: The refurbished buildingInset: Detail of shuttered windows

LLANDOVERY STATION

Llandovery marked the boundarybetween the London & North WesternRailway and the Great Western Railwayon the Central Wales line, and hence ithad an importance in railway termsdisproportionate to its size. The stationbuilding, located to the south of themain A40 level crossing on thesouthbound platform, is constructed indressed stone and dates from the earliestdays of the system, probably the openingof the Vale of Towey line in 1858.Nationalisation meant that the borderstatus of this location graduallydisappeared, and the modernisation andsimplification of the railway left it as asmall rural passing station. Inevitably, itwas eventually destaffed, with thebooking office closing in 1992, sincewhen it has gradually deteriorated.

The Central Wales line was subject toa rigorous campaign to ensure that it didnot close, led by the Heart of Wales LineTravellers’ Association. As the line’sfuture became more assured theAssociation moved towards a moreactive role in promoting the line, andformed a development company. Lastyear’s Report showed how the Trust hadassisted the development company incarrying out a feasibility study as to howthe building might be used, and it waswith great pleasure that this year weawarded a grant towards carrying outthis work. By the end of the 2010/11financial year the work of converting thebuilding for community use was well

advanced, with the interior stripped andreplastered, the exterior decorated, andinstallation of services almostcompleted. The Trust is most impressedwith the high quality of the work thecompany has carried out, and the use oforiginal materials as far as possible – forexample lime and hemp plaster. HRH

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


HEXHAM STATION

Hexham is the largest station on theNewcastle to Carlisle line. The stationwas extended several times after it wasfirst opened in the late 1830s, but itsoverall style has remained consistent.

On the south, westbound, platform isa model railway shop, and this facilityincludes, but does not use, a formernewspaper kiosk. The Tyne ValleyCommunity Rail Partnership developeda proposal to separate and reopen thekiosk as a community feature, and theTrust gave a small grant to facilitate thisproject.

Sponsor: Tyne Valley Community RailPartnership, Hexham, Northumberland

Contractor: Chandos Construction Services,Hexham, Northumberland

The Prince of Wales has taken a closeinterest in this scheme, and attended toopen the finished project in June 2011.

Sponsor: Heart of Wales Line DevelopmentCompany Ltd, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire

Architect: KBJ Architects, Llandovery,Carmarthenshire

Contractor: Haydn Hudson Builders, Llandovery,Carmarthenshire

General view of kiosk before refurbishment

Above: Freshly refurbished interiorInset: Forecourt view of restored building

YATTON STATION

Yatton Station in North Somerset is anunusual surviving example of the lineside stations designed in the office of I KBrunel in the earliest years of the GreatWestern Railway. The station wasoriginally opened as Clevedon Road inJune 1841 as part of the Bristol & ExeterRailway. It was renamed Yatton in July1847.

The buildings are constructed oflightly-figured, coursed, Mendip stone,with ashlar window and door surroundsin a Tudor style. However, they alsoexhibit the extended eaves which Brunelapplied to his Italianate designs.Although the structures have beensomewhat modified over the years, theystill retain their originally intended style.

The southbound platform buildingretains the remains of the original narrowstone structure as its platform elevation,and its extended rear is timber framed.The structure had been deteriorating forsome time with no appreciable use, untilthe Strawberry Line Community InterestCompany was set up to develop it as acommunity café facility. The restorationhas been thorough, with rotten supporttimbers replaced, and new timberboarding only installed where necessary.Attention to detail has been diligent.

The transformation, supported by theTrust, has been considerable, and thesuccessful scheme has given theseimportant historic premises a new leaseof life.

Sponsor: Strawberry Line Café Project CIC,Yatton, Somerset

Architect: Quattro Design Architects, BristolContractor: Honeyfield Property Services Ltd,

Bristol

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


YORK: DRAWINGS CONSERVATION

Once again, the Trust has met the on-going cost of conserving importanthistoric drawings held at the NetworkRail National Records Centre in York.The important task of conserving thedrawings continues to expand to includerecords from other contemporaryrailway sources.

This year the work included:• Ninety original contract drawings for

the Cheltenham & Great Western

Union Railway, some signed by Bruneland contractors from the 1830s,

• Ten original contract drawings for theWiltshire, Somerset & WeymouthRailway from the late 1830s,

• Eleven drawings of London BridgeStation for the London, Brighton &South Coast Railway, one of which isof the original station in the 1830s,the remainder showing alterationsfrom the 1850s, and

• Thirteen original drawings ofBlackfriars Station on the London,

Chatham & Dover Railway, somesigned by engineer John Wolfe Barry.

Drawings of the original GatwickRacecourse Station, London VictoriaStation frontage in 1900, and LondonWaterloo Station from 1923 add to thevariety, which is underlined by theinclusion of more recent work such asfour artist’s impressions of LondonCannon Street and London WaterlooStations.

Sponsor: Network Rail HQ, London

Left: The interior restoredTop inset: Signing detailBottom inset: The fully refurbished building

LIVERPOOL LIME STREETSTATION

Last year we reported on the majorworks carried out at Liverpool LimeStreet Station which saw a significantremodelling of the approach andfrontage. The spectacular terracedapproach with granite paving, formalplanting and distinctive artwork is nowfully completed, with the lift access tothe subway linking the forecourt to theLiverpool Metro Station now operating.

A second grant was given to thisproject for this financial year and theTrust is delighted to have supported theHomes & Communities Agency inachieving such a fine improvement tothis important public space.

Sponsor: Homes & Communities Agency,Warrington, Cheshire

Architect: Glenn Howells Architects, BirminghamContractor: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering,

Liverpool


WROXHAM SIGNAL BOX

We have described the steady progressthat the Wroxham Signalbox Trust(WST) has made with the restoration ofthis box in the last two Reports. During2010/11 the work continued, with anew stairway funded with Trustassistance. By the end of the financialyear the work had all been completed,except for a small piece of exteriorpainting. The finished job reflects thehigh quality of the work carried out byboth the contractor and the WST’svolunteers in restoring both the exteriorand the upper-floor interior of the box.This has been a labour of love for bothparties.

However, it became clear during theyear that the project had considerablyoverspent its budget. With assistancefrom our former Executive Director, JimCornell, the WST’s position was clarified,and we were able to justify a further,final, grant against the increased costs,putting the WST back into a stableposition. This has, in turn, releasedadditional external grant money torestore the locking room on the groundfloor, without further Railway HeritageTrust support.

Sponsor: Wroxham Signalbox Trust, Wroxham,Norfolk

Contractor: John Grimwood, Hickling, Norfolk

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

General view of the refurbished forecourt

Top: Rear elevation of the boxAbove: Window detailRight: General view of the box

CHESTER STATION

The Trust has invested repeatedly atChester Station over many years. FrancisThompson’s great 1848 building is nowrevealed to the public, with many of thelater hotch-potch of buildings that hadbeen added having been removed, and asingle set of modern facilities providedwhere necessary to a consistentcontemporary design, which contrastswith Thompson’s work, and helps tohighlight it.

In 2008/09 and 2009/10 the Trustreported on its funding of works on themain building, fronting the highway atthe south of the site. During 2010/11we have had little involvement in thisarea. One project was to make a finalpayment on the restoration of the eastwing offices, which was described in lastyear’s Report; this accommodation isnow awaiting a tenant.

and around the footbridge and a stafffacility at the west end of the platform.Both facilities follow the general designof the previously-erected buildings onthe south platform, giving a consistentfeel to the station. As part of these worksthe café on the platform has beenrelocated to the footbridge area, in amuch more useful location forpassengers, and the provision of asecond set of steps from the footbridgedown to platform 7 has made thetransfer over the bridge more free-flowing.

There is still further work to be doneat Chester. The Trust has offered a grantto help restore the exterior of the westwing offices in the main station building,and is working with the council andNetwork Rail to improve the footbridgeand the arcade on platform 3 by glazingareas that are currently blocked bycorrugated steel sheeting. If this projectis successful then it will reveal the finalareas of Thompson’s original station topublic view, which the Trust stronglywishes to see happen.

In view of the success of most of thework at Chester, the Trust is mostconcerned to see the plans for an eight-

storey car park at the west end of thestation. The proposed building willdominate the listed buildings that formthe station, and its style and size are outof keeping with its surroundings. TheTrust continues to hope that the finaldesign for the car park will take accountof our suggestions to reduce the heightand impact of the structure withoutreducing the much-needed car parkingcapacity.

Main BuildingSponsor: Cheshire West and Chester Council,

ChesterArchitect: Building Design Partnership,

ManchesterContractor: Osborne Rail, Redhill, SurreyVisitor Information CentreSponsor: Visit Chester and Cheshire, ChesterContractor: United Aluminium Ltd, Middleton,

ManchesterIsland Platform BuildingsSponsor: Cheshire West and Chester Council,

ChesterArchitect: Building Design Partnership,

ManchesterContractors: Strategic Team Group,

Glasshoughton, Castleford, West Yorkshire &Murphy Group, Warrington, Cheshire

Whilst not a formal project, the Trustadvised Arriva Trains Wales, andCheshire West and Chester Council, onaspects of the design of some much-needed doors at the main entry to thestation, and was pleased to see that itssuggestions were adopted.

The only new project that the Trusthas funded in the main station buildingis a small scheme to provide a VisitorInformation Centre in a formerstoreroom, allowing the visitor guides onthe station a base from which they canoperate.

The main focus for the Trust in thisyear has been the island platform, whichserves trains into England, to Crewe,Manchester and Liverpool. The two mainbuildings on this platform have, as withmost of the station, been affected byunsympathetic additions over manydecades. As part of the TownscapeHeritage Initiative the Trust funded theremoval of all these extraneousbuildings, and their replacement withtwo new structures, a public area under

Above: Detail of the west pavilionLeft: Detail of the stonework repairsBelow: General view showing central pavilion


REVIEW OF PROJECTS

WHALEY BRIDGE STATION

Whaley Bridge Station was opened in1857 by the Stockport, Disley & WhaleyBridge Railway (SD&WBR), later part ofthe London & North Western Railway(L&NWR). It was constructed in randomcoursed stone under a gabled, slated roofextended over the platform to form acanopy, and has seen several changesover its lifetime. Although somewhataustere, the station buildings have arugged style.

The station sits high above the town,overlooking the tourist focal point of thePeak Forest Canal with its significantheritage legacy, notably thetranshipment sheds of 1832. Originallythe track was crossed by a level crossingat the eastern end of the stationadjacent to which stood a typicalL&NWR type 4 signal box and a watertank carried on a stone base. The levelcrossing was taken out in 1896 andreplaced by an underbridge, and thestation entrance was also modified atthis time. Later the chimneys werereduced in height and louvred vents onthe roof removed.

A local interest group, the Friends ofWhaley Bridge Station (FoWBS) wasformed in 2006 with the aim ofpreserving the station and bringing theformer waiting room and associatedfeatures back into use as a community

facility and a centre to disseminate localinformation. The FoWBS joined withNetwork Rail and Northern Rail anddeveloped a scheme which has improvedthe awkward arrangements related tothe ticket office, and enabled this facilityto be developed. One existing fireplacehas been expertly restored and relocatedin the waiting room, the wainscots andbench seating repaired and, as anexcellent detail, the lower panes of thewindows have been fitted with glassetched with the crest of the SD&WBR.The Trust was delighted to support theworks and, indeed, increased theoriginal grant to include works to raisethe height of the chimneys and reinstatethe platform clock.


Designer: Network Rail Building Design Group,Manchester

Contractor: MFG Construction North-West Ltd,Widnes, Cheshire


DUMBARTON CENTRALSTATION

Dumbarton Central is located on thenorth bank of the Clyde, 16 miles fromGlasgow Queen Street. It is the mainintermediate station on the North Clydelines to the west of Glasgow, and isserved by trains to and fromHelensburgh Central, Balloch, and theWest Highlands (Oban, Fort William andMallaig). The present station, built in1896 by the Dumbarton & Balloch JointRailway, sits on a red sandstone viaduct,which is decorated with a castle theme

running throughout, including acrenellated parapet and five buttressescomplete with mock arrow slits.

The two island platform buildings arein red and buff brick, and have an ArtNouveau feel to them. The windows areof particular note, and it is notsurprising that the whole station isCategory A listed.

As with so many other stations, therailway industry makes far less use ofthe facilities here than it once did,leaving many rooms empty and unused.A local businessman, with fundingsupport from Transport Scotland’s

Stations Community Regeneration Fund,has taken over a room on the eastboundplatform, and is converting it to a café.The windows in this room, althoughfundamentally sound, had been glazedin perspex, and the Trust has given asmall grant to reglaze them in anappropriate material, and providesecurity to the new facility.

Sponsor: Chris Pollock, Dumbarton, WestDunbartonshire

Contractor: R & P Builders Ltd, Dumbarton, WestDunbartonshire

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

Top left: Fireplace detailInset: Replacement sliding doors to platformaccessBelow: Interior of refurbished waiting room

KINGHORN STATION

The 1840s stations of the formerEdinburgh & Northern Railway (E&NR)form an amazingly well-preserved set oforiginal railway architecture across theKingdom of Fife. Kinghorn Station is atwo-storey building in grey stone,located at the rear of the down platformand looking out over the Firth of Forth.It was probably designed by David Bell,and opened in 1847. Whilst no-onecould argue that it matches thearchitectural levels of Bell’s other E&NRstations at Cupar, Ladybank, Markinchor Burntisland, it is still an earlysurvivor, and it would be sad to see itdeteriorate beyond use, but only a smallsection of the ground floor of thebuilding now remains in railway use, asa booking office.

The Trust was pleased when a localartist approached it with a proposal toprovide two studios on the first floor; theScottish Government also supported theproject through its Stations CommunityRegeneration Fund, enabling it to goahead within a year of first beingproposed. The works, which have beenrapidly and effectively carried out, haverestored a very poor condition interior toan excellent state of repair, with gooduse of wood mouldings and wainscoting,particularly in the windows.

degree angle. The hipped roof overhangsthe box structure on all four sides,providing some cover to the signalmanwhen he had to step outside to speak topassing drivers. Modernisation of thesignalling on the Chiltern lines led to theclosure of the box in 1984, since when ithas remained in situ, but graduallydeteriorating.

The Mid Hants Railway has beengiven a Heritage Lottery Fund grant todevelop workshops at Ropley, and aninterpretation centre at Medstead & FourMarks. Discussions with the Trust andNetwork Rail led to the Railwayacquiring the Great Missenden box forthis and the Trust contributed towardsits relocation. On 23rd/24th October2010 it moved the box’s upper storey toMedstead, where it is to be erected on anew base: the lower storey was found tobe rotted beyond repair, so the relocationprevented the collapse or demolition ofthe structure. The box is now stored atMedstead near its final site, and work isunderway to restore it. There is no datefor final erection and opening, but it ishoped that this will be completed during2012.

Sponsor: Mid Hants Railway Ltd, Alresford,Hampshire

Contractor: Moveright International Ltd, Wishaw,Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands (plus MidHants Railway staff)

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


GREAT MISSENDEN SIGNAL BOX

Great Missenden Station lies on the linebetween Amersham and Aylesbury. Theline was built by the MetropolitanRailway (MR) as part of its northwardpush through what became known asMetroland, and opened to traffic on 1stSeptember 1892. The new lineconnected with the Aylesbury to VerneyJunction line of the Aylesbury &Buckingham Railway, which becamepart of the MR, and the opening of theGreat Central Railway’s (GCR) Londonextension on 15th March 1899 broughtmain line traffic to the route.

Progressive groupings saw the MRtaken into London Transport (LT), andthe GCR into the London & NorthEastern Railway, and then BritishRailways (BR). In 1961 LT completedelectrifying the Metropolitan Line as faras Amersham, and ceased to operatetrains to Aylesbury, transferring thissection of the route to BR’s ownership.Thus BR, and its successors, became theowner of a series of MR signal boxes,including the one at Great Missenden.

The box is a standard Metropolitandesign, although very much based onthe designs of signalling contractorSaxby & Farmer. The timber-framedconstruction has distinctive matchboarding, some panels being boardedhorizontally whilst others are at a 45

Above: The signal box awaiting restoration

Above: Interior of refurbished studio

After the commencement of works onthis project, First ScotRail found that itcould also release the former Ladies’Waiting Room on the ground floor, andthe Trust is now supporting a secondphase of work in 2011/12, to convertthis room into a gallery; this will allowthis space, which is fully accessible to allvisitors, to be used for exhibitions andcommunity meetings.

Sponsor: Lynette Gray, Kinghorn, Fife

LANCASTER STATION

Lancaster Station was designed by SirWilliam Tite for the Lancaster & CarlisleRailway. Much of the original buildingsurvives, and enlargements in 1858 and1902 are in character, making thestation a wonderful historic survivor.Tite’s style of design is Tudor, and whilstmost obvious on the main, west side,building, it can also be seen on thebuildings on the island platform thatserves southbound trains. Although thecanopies were altered in the 1902changes, the actual buildings on thisplatform are believed to be original.

At the foot of the staircase is the maincafeteria facility for the station. Thefranchised operators of this café,Caterleisure Ltd, wished to upgrade thefacility, and to rebrand it as a ‘CostaCoffee’ outlet. With the support of theTrust, and the co-operation ofCaterleisure’s own architects and Costaitself, the branding designs have beensubtly modified to pick out the historicfeatures of the building. In particularthe main range of shelves behind thecounter has been split to allow anexisting window to be seen and tofunction.

The project has also restored severalheritage aspects of the room. Thewindow opening mechanisms, fireplaceand tiled floor have all had excellentwork carried out on them, and the Trustis most impressed with the combinationof historic features and a sympatheticmodern branding that Caterleisure hasachieved.

Sponsor: Caterleisure Ltd, Bradford, WestYorkshire

Architect: GIA Ltd, YorkContractor: Cordery Build Ltd, Guildford, Surrey

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


Far left: Staircase detailLeft: External view

Fireplace detail The bright corridor area

Above: The welcoming interior

WAR MEMORIALS: CREWE &DERBY STATIONS

It has been a cause of much pleasure tothe Trust to see the increased focus onthe importance of war memorials inBritish society in recent years, and thisyear we have supported two verydifferent restorations of such memorials.

At Crewe Station the war memorialfor those who lost their lives at CreweNorth and South sheds had beenrelocated from the sheds into offices onthe station when the sheds weredemolished. In time the offices

themselves were abandoned, and thememorial plaque was left hidden fromview. Virgin Trains, the station operator,found the plaque, and felt it should beput on display. With support from theTrust it was relocated to the entrance tothe First Class lounge on the station, onview to all who use this facility. Theplaque was rededicated at a service on15th September 2010.

At Derby the Midland Railwaycommissioned the architect EdwardLutyens to design a memorial to the2,833 members of its staff who losttheir lives in the Great War. Thememorial was dedicated by the Bishop ofSouthwell at a service on 15th

together a project to restore thememorial. With additional funding andproject management from Network Rail,and excellent work by the contractor inabysmal weather, the restoration wascompleted just before RemembranceSunday. On 17th December 2010,almost 89 years to the day after theoriginal dedication, the memorial wasrededicated at a service attended by theLord Lieutenant of Derbyshire and theLord Mayor of Derby, using the originalprayer of dedication from 1921.

Crewe StationSponsor: Virgin Trains, BirminghamContractor: Dalkia Rail, LondonDerby StationSponsor: Network Rail London North Eastern,

York Contractor: Skill-Stone Ltd, Leicester

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


SANDOWN STATION

In its 2009/10 Report the Trustdescribed how it had helped fund therestoration of the 1864 Isle of WightRailway station at Sandown. The finalstages of this work were completed byIsland Line Trains (part of South WestTrains) at the start of this financial year,and the Trust paid an additional granttowards this restoration.

Sponsor: Island Line Trains, Ryde, Isle of WightArchitect: R M Associates, Bembridge, Isle of

WightContractor: Vectis Builders Ltd, Ryde, Isle of

Wight

December 1921. In later years thememorial, which clearly shows itsresemblance to Lutyens’ Cenotaph inWhitehall, was justifiably listed Grade II.Unusually for a war memorial that isseparated from railway operational land,it remained the property of Railtrack atthe time of privatisation, and nowbelongs to Network Rail.

Sadly, in August 2010 the memorialwas desecrated and vandalised, with threeof the six plaques listing the fallen, andthe bronze surrounds to them, beingstolen. Fortunately the plaques werequickly found and recovered, although thesurrounds were sold for scrap, and lost.

The Trust took the lead in putting

Left: General view of Derby memorialBelow: The reinstated bronze panels

Below: The relocated memorial at Crewe

HUTTON CRANSWICKSTATION

Hutton Cranswick Station lies on theHull to Bridlington line, some 16 milesnorth of Hull. The main station buildingis on the northbound platform, anddates back to the opening of the line in1846, as an extension of GeorgeHudson’s York & North Midland Railwayat the height of the Railway Mania. Thebuilding is a typical example of the workof G T Andrews, who designed so manystations in Yorkshire. The station houseis two storeys high, with a long single-storey projection at the south end, whichcontained the booking office.

After the station was demannedBritish Rail sold the house, but retainedthe booking office in case there was a

possible future demand. This has notmaterialised, and the present owner ofthe house has recently acquired thebooking office from Network Rail inorder to extend his property.

The Trust has offered support for theconversion of the booking office to non-railway use, and has also negotiated thetransfer of its contents, which werealmost intact despite several decades ofneglect, to the North Yorkshire MoorsRailway. Most of the structuralconversion work has taken place thisyear, and the remaining works will becarried out early in 2011/12.

Sponsor: Sean Paxton, Hutton Cranswick, EastYorkshire

LONDON ST PANCRASSTATION

The transformation of London StPancras into the international terminusfor Eurostar services has rightly receivedmuch praise and publicity. One of thefactors for the success of this project wasthe transformation of the 1868 MidlandRailway (MR) undercroft to housefacilities for international passengers(the space was originally used as atransit store for beer casks delivered fromBurton-on-Trent). This enabled a well-integrated design to be developed, takingadvantage of the headroom resultingfrom the MR’s original solution to theproblem of taking the railway over theadjacent Grand Union Canal.

The Derby-based MR was significantin that it was the only major railwaycompany not to have its head offices inLondon, so in order to commemorate thecompany’s association with St Pancras,The Roy F Burrows Midland CollectionTrust commissioned a blue plaque, withfunding support from the Trust, to bedisplayed at the station.

The plaque is located at the streetentrance to the Eurostar concourseopposite the west side of Kings CrossStation, and was unveiled by ourChairman on 11th August 2010.

Sponsor: The Roy F Burrows Midland CollectionTrust, Derby

Contractor: Leander Architectural, Dove Holes,Buxton, Derbyshire

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


TORQUAY STATION

The grand Great Western Railwaystation at Torquay was the subject of areport last year, and this year the Trustgave a second grant to complete theworks to regenerate the upside spaces forcommercial accommodation.

Dating from 1878, the present stationbuildings were constructed to a standarddesign produced by J E Danks and WLancaster Owen, and are typical of thestyle of medium to large stations of theperiod, constructed in grey limestonewith paired, truncated turrets capped byornate filigree ironwork.

The upside building is nowresplendent, with new glazing to thecantilevered canopy along the length ofthe building, and although occupationof part of the suite of commercialaccommodation has taken place, thebuilding would benefit from completeoccupation to generate vibrancy and life.


Architect: Network Rail Building Design Group,London

Design & Build Contractor: Geoffrey Osborne Ltd,London

Below: General view of the station building

Above: The St Pancras plaque unveiled

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RIDGMONT STATION

The stations on the Bletchley to Bedfordroute were built by the London &Birmingham Railway, later part of theLondon & North Western Railway.Several, including Ridgmont, wereconstructed in the Cottage Orné style tocomplement the structures on the Dukeof Bedford’s estate, through which theroute passed. The style employed at thesestations is generally similar, but eachlocation exhibits a variance in the actualdetails and form of the building.

Ridgmont Station is situated mid-wayon the route and was opened in 1846.Brick is employed in the chimneys andlower floors, using local buff bricks withred quoins, and the main walls havetimber-framed panelling with chestnutlath in-fills and lime-renderedplasterwork. Timber frames in a Tudorstyle are employed to provide the

decorative element to the upper floors.The roofs are finished in clay tiles, someof a scalloped design, and the bargeboards are fretted confections, verymuch in the style of the neighbouringMidland Railway.

The station had been deteriorating forsome time, but the decline has been

halted by the intervention of theBedfordshire Rural Communities Charitywhich has taken a long lease on thestructure with a view to restoring themain building and adding a rearextension to provide aheritage/educational facility and acommunity café and meeting rooms.

The first phase of the work, supportedby the Trust, has concentrated on themain track side elevation and the endsof the building, which were in very poorcondition. This has dealt with the keyheritage elements and has given theproject the kick-start from which thecharity can work to develop theextension.

Internally the upper rooms have seenreplacement of the lath and plasterceilings, using the original methods butwith modern materials, and the heritagerepairs have been carried out to a veryhigh standard. On the ground floor,long-term water ingress had left theformer Ladies Waiting Room floor andsole plates in a grievous state. Thesehave now been fully reinstated, retainingoriginal material where possible.

The Trust will continue to support thework in 2011/12, and looks forward todetailing the fully-completed project inour next Report.

Sponsor: Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity,Cardington, Bedfordshire

Architect: Simic Associates, BedfordContractor: NSE Contracts Ltd, Stagsden West

End, Bedfordshire

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Top left: Ladies Waiting Room: work in progressTop right: Laths & frames during refurbishmentCentre: Framework detailBottom: Entrance gallery refurbished

Southwark, funded cleaning up andimprovements to the bridge, making thepassage under the railway much moreattractive to the public, and encouraginga link between the areas to the northand south of the viaduct.

This financial year has seen the Trustgive a final grant for £15,000, to coverthe last stages of the restoration, and inparticular the completion of the lightingworks referred to in last year’s AnnualReport. Subsequently the Trust has

HEBDEN BRIDGE STATION

This station is a typical example of aLancashire & Yorkshire Railway station.Although the first station here opened in1840, the present buildings date back to1906. However, what was a normal,unnoticeable station in 1906 is now aunique survivor, with the stationbuildings still complete, and the originalsigning having somehow survived theera of British Railway’s corporateidentity.

The Trust has given six previousgrants for various aspects of work onthis station, the most recent in 1997/98.However, one aspect that left a lot to bedesired was the toilets, and the Trust washappy to support a proposal by NorthernRail to upgrade these and also thewaiting room, to provide facilities of aquality that matched the rest of thestation.

Sponsor: Northern Rail, YorkContractor: JMD Developments (UK) Ltd,

Wetherby, West Yorkshire

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


BERMONDSEY: SPA ROADBRIDGE

The Trust’s 2009/10 Report gave detailsof the London Borough of Southwark’srestoration of the Spa Road underbridgeat Bermondsey. The structure was partof the three and three quarter mile,1836 viaduct that linked London BridgeStation to Deptford on the opening ofthe London & Greenwich Railway. In2009/10 the Trust, in conjunction with

worked with the borough to agree thedesign of the public artwork referred toin last year’s Report, and this has nowbeen installed. This final projectconcludes the works at this bridge.

Sponsor: London Borough of SouthwarkEngineer: Mouchel, LondonContractor: Conway Ltd, Dartford, Kent

Below: Interior of waiting roomInset: Entrances to refurbished toilets

Above: Artwork installation

STROUD GOODS SHED

Isambard Kingdom Brunel engineeredthe Great Western Railway (GWR) linefrom Swindon to Gloucester in 1845 aspart of his South Wales Railway. (Thelong diversion north was caused by theneed to go up the Severn Estuary to apoint where it was narrow enough forthe technology of 1845 to be able tocross the river.) However, the station atStroud, although part of the originalrailway, does not display much ofBrunel’s flair, and was probably designedby one of his staff. Nevertheless, this isan important early station, and thegoods shed is one of a small number ofthese buildings that survive at all, letalone from Brunel’s time. Apart from itshistoric merit, the goods shed is alsounusual in that you can see the inter-war GWR advertising for its parcelsservice to London. It merits its Grade IIlisting.

The Trust has worked with The StroudPreservation Trust (SPT) for many years

CROMER SIGNAL BOX

The Trust’s 2009/10 Report gave detailsof this Grade II listed signal box, which isthe last surviving Marriott concrete boxfrom the former Midland & GreatNorthern Joint Railway. During that yearThe Cromer Railway Signalling Societyhad carried out much work to restorethe box as a museum.

As well as the restoration of theoriginal buildings the society hasinstalled a pair of points, so that thevisitor can see the complex process oflocking, detecting and signalling trains.During 2010/11 the society has carried


to try and find a use for the goods shed.Recently the shed has been subject tovandalism, and the Trust agreed that itwas necessary to secure the buildingbefore damage got out of control. During2010/11 all the openings were securedwith roller shutter doors. These weremounted within the building so as not todestroy the arch lines of the originalopenings, and the opportunity of havinga contractor on site was used to tidy upsome external features of the shed.

Ideally the building would be let forsome form of community use. It is nearthe centre of Stroud, and offers a large

space that could have several uses. Thereappeared to be something of a ‘Catch-22’ situation, in that there was noelectricity in the building, so no-one wasinterested in a tenancy, whilst the TownCouncil was unable to match the Trust’soffer of a grant towards such a supply asthere was no tenant. However, it appearsthis has now been resolved, and theTrust looks forward to working with theSPT to finally get this building back intouse.

Sponsor: The Stroud Preservation Trust Ltd,Stroud, Gloucestershire

Contractor: E G Carter & Company Ltd, Gloucester

out the remaining works to complete theproject, particularly the refurbishmentof the ‘bothy’ cabin adjacent to the box.The Trust welcomes this restoration;such cabins were once to be foundthroughout the system, but few nowsurvive, and it is good that one has beenpreserved and put in excellent order:indeed, this cabin is probably in as gooda state as when it was newly built.

Sponsor: The Cromer Railway Signalling Society,Cromer, Norfolk

Contractor: The Cromer Railway SignallingSociety volunteers

Top: Exterior of shed showing shuttersBelow: Interior view of shed

Left: Exterior & interior of ‘bothy’ cabinBelow: Exterior view of signal box

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

BATH SPA: CHURCHILLARCHES

Churchill Arches are sandwichedbetween the Skew Bridge, carryingBrunel’s Great Western main line overthe River Avon, and the castellated stone‘gatehouse’ element of the viaductlocated by the site of the mediaevalSouthgate Bridge. There are sevensegmental arches and they areconstructed in blue engineeringbrickwork; four are through arches andthree are blind.

For some time the arches were used astenancies but had fallen into disrepair.The lease was transferred to Bath &North East Somerset Council who, withsupport from Network Rail and the Trust,undertook a clearance of the arch spaceswith removal of some later interventions.The arch openings were then closed witha sympathetically-styled set of gates andfences using a design which reflects theGreat Western Railway heritage of thelocation. The area between the archesand the river was tidied up andreplacement heritage balustrades to theriver frontage incorporated together withrestored sections of the original Brunel-era balustrades.

This worthwhile restoration nowrequires some further attention toreplace missing elements and restore the

LITTLEBOROUGH STATION

Littleborough Station was originallyopened by the Lancashire & YorkshireRailway in 1839. The later platformbuilding, which sits on a raised areabeyond and above the booking office, isconstructed in coursed, figured stone,with ashlar quoins and windowsurrounds, and is exhibiting signs ofhaving been subjected to somemovement over the years. This is alsoevidenced in period photographs.

The local history society has takenover the lease of the building, and isconverting it into an archive and studycentre, retaining as much of the original

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


Sponsor & Designer: Bath & North East SomersetCouncil Property Services, Bath, Somerset

Contractor: TPM (Southwest) Ltd, Bath, SomersetMetalwork: Weldcraft Engineering Ltd, Shepton

Mallet, Somerset

fabric as possible and installingreplacement fixtures to the originaldetail, where these can be ascertained.This year the Trust has supported thereopening and restoration of the frontdoor (not on the platform elevation) aspart of the initial implementation works.

Sponsor: Littleborough Historical andArchaeological Society, Littleborough, GreaterManchester

Architect: Burr Design Associates Ltd, Rochdale,Greater Manchester

Contractor: Dean Murphy Builders, Littleborough,Greater Manchester

Windows & Doors: Ashwood (Rochdale) Ltd,Rochdale, Greater Manchester

remaining original cast-iron archnumerals, which were not part of theoriginal commission.

Top left: Detail of arch enclosuresAbove: General view of arches

Above: Station building showing restoredentrance

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The station was built in red brick,with a fine canopy on the track side ofthe main building. It is of single-storeyconstruction, with a hipped, slated roof,but suffered from considerable neglect inthe late 20th century: the southboundplatform was closed, and all thebuildings on it were demolished, as wasthe footbridge. Demolition of much of


HARTLEPOOL STATION

Hartlepool was one of the earliest townsto be served by rail, with the first linesopening in 1835. The present stationopened in 1850, as West Hartlepool,whilst the building, designed by WilliamBell, dates from 1880. In 1967 itbecame the main station for Hartlepool,and lost its ‘West’ prefix.

the canopy left a very poor station, butdespite this it was listed Grade II.

However, since 2008 a series ofprojects has transformed the station. A new canopy was built, and thenextended, to the front face of thebuilding, as part of a transportinterchange scheme, whilst the canopyon the track side has been restored to itsprevious splendour, retaining theoriginal cast-iron columns.

As part of the National StationsImprovement Programme a newpassenger waiting area has beenprovided under the canopy. Although ofmodern design, the waiting room ismainly glazed, and does not take awayfrom the historic structure of thestation. The Trust has given a grant tosupport the provision of this waitingroom, and to restore some of theoriginal station doors, so as to completethe details of the refurbishment.

Sponsor: Network Rail London North Eastern,York

Designer & Contractor: Strategic Team Group,Glasshoughton, Castleford, West Yorkshire

LEAMINGTON SPA STATION

Leamington Spa Station was built in1938 to replace a Brunel-era overalltrain shed which had fallen into deepdilapidation. The Great Western Railwayopted for a grand station building in abold Art Deco style, well-proportionedand with the use of hardwoods andchromium-plated details, particularly inthe waiting rooms.

In recent years the two waiting roomson both platforms had become just shellsof their former Art Deco splendour. TheTrust has supported their refurbishmentwhich includes restoration of details,posters, the original fireplaces, originalseating and the floors. New lighting andautomatic door systems are also beingincorporated as part of accessibilityimprovements and a new facility createdfor traincrew at the southern end of theBirmingham-bound platform, togetherwith new disabled toilet facilities.

This very attractive and successfulwork has released space adjacent to thesouthbound platform waiting room andcreated a new internal linking doorwaywhich, it is hoped, will enable the spaceto be developed as a cafeteria, with themissing Art Deco details being reinstatedin the near future.

Sponsor: Chiltern Railways, Aylesbury,Buckinghamshire

Designer: Ian Harban Consulting Engineers,Banbury, Oxfordshire

Project Management: Right Results ProjectManagement Ltd, Banbury, Oxfordshire

Contractor: Barnwood Shopfitting Ltd, Gloucester

Above: The new waiting room

Above: Refurbished interior of upside waitingroomRight: Fireplace in downside waiting room

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BATH SPA STATION

Part of I K Brunel’s Great WesternRailway (GWR) route to Bristolconstructed in 1840, Bath Spa Stationwas built in a Jacobean style in ashlarBath stone. Extended in the later part ofthe 19th century, the station hadchanged little in character with theexception of the removal of the overalltrain shed circa 1896, and itsreplacement with a set of canopies.

However, over the last few years amajor transformation has taken placeadjacent to the station in the form of theSouthgate Development, and this hascreated a new bus interchange alongsidethe station, and a major retail and

commercial development between thestation and the city centre.

The development proposes to removethe former carriage ramp leading fromstreet to platform level on the upside ofthe station, and this will expose thearches upon which the railway is carried,and create further retail opportunities.The western entrance to the station willbe heavily modified, but leave theoriginal Brunel-era, curved, flank wall inbetter context. The proposals will alsoopen up the former south side entrance,and the Trust is supporting the develop-ment team, with funding towards thereplacement of the cantilevered GWRcanopy, removed some time ago.

Improved access arrangements with


new lifts will also be delivered, and asecond grant has been awarded for therefurbishment of the redundant historicVictorian lift which served the downsideplatform. This was originally powered bya hydraulic system using water from theRiver Avon, and the wooden lift car withits stylish, glazed roof is being relocatedto platform level and supported on adiscreet structure in order that it may beviewed as a feature.

Finally, the Trust has assisted thedevelopment team with funding for therefurbishment of the formerstationmaster’s accommodation knownas Avonside House. Work is currentlyproceeding on this and further updateswill be given in next year’s Report.

Sponsor: Multi Development UK Ltd, Belfast,Northern Ireland

Architect: Wilkinson Eyre Architects, LondonContractor: Thomas Vale Group, Stourport-on-

Severn, WorcestershireSteelwork: Steelway, Wolverhampton, West

Midlands

SOWERBY BRIDGE STATION

The Trust worked with Chris and Andrew Wright for many years tocomplete and launch The JubileeRefreshment Rooms at Sowerby Bridge.We fully described the work in the2008/09 Annual Report, and thebusiness opened at the end of 2009. It has done well since, and is a usefulextra facility for the station and its users.We were delighted when it was highly

installation of secondary double glazingto the building, both to improve security,and also to improve heat retention. Thecontractor has worked closely with theproprietors to ensure that the newdouble glazing fits in with the work thatwas carried out when the building wasrefurbished.

Sponsor: Chris and Andrew Wright, Halifax, WestYorkshire

Contractor: WD Rollings Ltd, Harrogate, NorthYorkshire

commended in the National RailwayHeritage Awards in 2010.

However, there was, regrettably, aseries of break-ins almost as soon as therefreshment rooms opened, with theresultant loss of stock and repair billsbadly affecting the business in its earlydays. Although there have been nofurther such incidents for many months,the Trust, after discussion with theBritish Transport Police, has funded the

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

Left: Detail view of replacement canopyBelow: Interior detail of historic lift car

NEWTON-LE-WILLOWSSTATION

Last year we reported on the installationof the replica tablet at Newton-le-Willows, commemorating the death ofWilliam Huskisson at the opening of theLiverpool & Manchester Railway in1830. This year the Trust has supported

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Network Rail and Northern Rail in therefurbishment of the main stationbuilding, originally constructed in 1848and extended some time after 1860.

This excellent scheme included thecomplete refurbishment of the roof andmajor works to repair the stonework,brickwork and internal finishes. Duringthe work the original station entrancedoorway at platform level wasdiscovered, and the original ceilingheights from the period when the

building had a ridge and furrow canopywere also exposed. The interiors havebeen sympathetically refurbished withautomatic doors provided to the waitingroom, where the original fireplace hasbeen restored, and a new customer toiletfacility added.

Having completed the excellentrestoration of the external fabric, theteam were dismayed to discover that atheft of the lead from the flat roof hadoccurred within a matter of weeks. Thetheft of lead from heritage buildings is agrowing trend and the Trust iscontinuing to work with both assetstewards and conservation officers toachieve suitable solutions to deter suchcriminal activity whilst maintaining theheritage aspects of buildings and alsoensuring their weather-tightness.


Designer: Network Rail Building Design Group,Manchester

Contractor: Murphy Group, Warrington, Cheshire

LONDON: BARNES BRIDGE

The Windsor, Staines & South WesternRailway initially built its line in 1849,crossing the River Thames at Barnes ona single-track, three-span, cast-ironbridge. Each span was a segmental archof 120 feet (36.6 metres), and had aclear height over the river of 21 feet (6.4metres). Although Joseph Lockedesigned the route, the bridge itself iscredited to J E Errington. As traffic grewthrough the 19th century the bridgebecame incapable of carrying the trafficon offer, and in 1895 the London &South Western Railway (L&SWR) built anew, double-track, wrought-iron latticebow-string bridge alongside it. Theoriginal structure was retained,although there is no evidence of ithaving been used operationally after thedouble-track bridge was built; however,the L&SWR did use it as a grandstand towatch the Boat Race. The entirestructure is Grade II listed, thus ensuringthe survival of the original bridge, a

provide a grant of £70,000 for a newparapet, thus making maximum use ofthe possessions and access systemsprovided for the repainting. The restoredbridge, in a colour scheme agreed withthe local councils, has drawn muchfavourable local comment.

Sponsor: Network Rail Wessex, LondonContractor: BAM Nuttall, Camberley, Surrey

feature of which is its cast-iron parapet,although, after over 160 years in situ,this was life expired, and a potential riskto traffic on the river below.

Network Rail had proposed to repaintthe entire bridge, including the out-of-use side spans, and approached theRailway Heritage Trust to enquire aboutsupport for a renewal of the parapet, stillusing cast iron. The Trust was happy to

Above: Interior of stairwellInset: The forecourt elevation refurbishedAbove right: Refurbished building at platform level

View of bridge from south bank (west)

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


BRIGHTON: TRAFALGARSTREET MURAL

Last year the Trust supportedarchitectural lighting in Brighton as partof the city’s ‘Glow Zone’ initiative. Theseworks included the lighting of the space

mural designed by Museum Director andFounder Christopher Littledale, depictinga full-size Pullman car from the iconicBrighton Belle Pullman train.

The mural was unveiled by ourChairman in September 2010 as part ofa celebratory street party organised bythe museum.

Sponsor: Brighton Toy & Model Museum,Brighton, East Sussex

Design: Christopher Littledale, Brighton, EastSussex

Artist: Terry Smith, Lymington, Hampshire

beneath the extension of the stationforecourt over Trafalgar Street. Thestructure is carried on cast-iron beamsand supported by heavy console bracketslocated on the retaining walls, thenorthernmost range of which form thearched frontage walls to the stationundercroft.

Located behind this range of archedopenings, accessed off Trafalgar Street,is the renowned Brighton Toy & ModelMuseum. With grant support from theTrust, the museum undertook theredecoration of its arched façade alongTrafalgar Street and incorporated a

SPALDING STATION

In our last two Reports we havedescribed the proposal to convert roomsin Spalding Station for use as acommunity radio facility. At the timethat we wrote our last Annual Report wewere confident that work to completethe project was about to restart. Sadly,the proposers of the scheme overspent,and needed additional grant fundingover and above that already provided bythe Trust. To date they have been unableto obtain this. As a result no work hasbeen carried out on site for over a year,and the Trust had to cancel the last£36,000 of the grant awarded last year.

One of the reasons for the cost over-runs on the project was the carrying outof certain works that were outside thescope of a tenant’s responsibilities.Network Rail, as landlord, has agreed topay the sum of £24,000 towards theseunauthorised costs, and, to assist thecash flow of South Holland Radio and itscontractors, the Trust made a grant ofthis amount in 2010/11, whichNetwork Rail will make good to the Trustin the financial year 2011/12.

Sponsor: South Holland Radio CIC, Spalding,Lincolnshire

GREAT MALVERN STATION

The 150th anniversary of the openingof the Worcester & Hereford Railwaywas commemorated in 2010. Leadingup to the celebrations, the Trustsupported Malvern Town Council withfunding towards the production ofpatterns for replacement cast-ironlighting columns and associatedacanthus decorations which are afeature of the forecourt of GreatMalvern Station, designed by localarchitect E W Elmslie and opened in1862.

Initially two columns have beenreinstalled onto existing stone piers oneither side of the steps leading up to thegrassed park area, complete with thecorrect decoration and new lamps. Overtime, the patterns will be reused so thateventually all the lighting columns willbe restored to their original form.

Sponsor: Malvern Town Council, Malvern,Worcestershire

Contractor: Steelway, Wolverhampton, WestMidlands

Above: Full elevation of the muralInset: ‘Character’ details abound

Stee

lway

Below: Refurbished lampInset left: Detail at night Inset right: The patternbox for replacement columns

SCRUTON STATION

Scruton lies on the Wensleydale branch,which runs east from Northallerton toRedmire. It was a small, single-platformstation, with few facilities – little morethan a booking office and a waitingroom. The village of Scruton is also verysmall, and it is no surprise that thestation closed over half a century ago, in1954. However, unlike most suchstations, the buildings survived, and arestill largely complete. The stationbuilding is mainly of brick, with a slatedroof, but there is a timber screenbetween the waiting room and theplatform. There were basic toilet

remains in the ownership of NetworkRail, which has allowed the Trust tosupport the WR’s restoration of ScrutonStation, as an example of a facility thatis now almost entirely lost to us.

The Trust’s funding has paid formaterials and contract support to thevolunteers who have done the majorityof the restoration. In the financial year2010/11 the work has been largely tothe roof of the station building, whichhas been reclad in Welsh slate, and theexcavation and refitting of the floor. Thesecond phase of the work, which thevolunteers will carry out in 2011/12,will involve internal fitting out,including a new toilet and septic tank,and completion of the restoration of thesignal box.

Sponsor: Wensleydale Railway Trust Ltd, LeemingBar, Northallerton, North Yorkshire

Designer: Potts Parry Ives + Young, YorkContractor: Wensleydale Railway volunteers


BORTH STATION

Borth Station was opened in 1863 bythe Aberystwyth & Welch Coast Railway(sic) (later part of Cambrian Railways).Originally Borth was a simple herringfishing village, set on a natural spitrunning along the coast between thesea and a lagoon behind, and therailway followed this higher ground.The village was home to sea captainsand mariners who used a ferry to accesstheir vessels at Aberdovey, and theintroduction of the railway was heavilypromoted by a local businessman,Thomas Savin.

The station was constructed in redbrick with stone details and is distinctlyItalianate in style due to the round-arched openings and the oversailingeaves to low-pitched roofs. A local group,the Borth Station Volunteers, has nowtaken on the former booking office andparcels area to create a small museumand educational area relating to boththe station and Cambrian Railways.

The booking hall was divided some

time ago in a most unsympatheticmanner by installing a diagonalblockwork wall. The Volunteers haveinstalled a new fire escape door in thiswall and restored the fabric of theremaining space to provide aninterpretation area. The ticket office willbe set out as a 1930s tableau and theparcels space will become a museumarea. New doors have been installed tothe platform and the windows are beingrepaired and reglazed, as are thecornices.

The Trust is pleased to have supportedthe restoration of this small element ofthe overall station and looks forward tothe much-needed restoration of theplatform canopy structure by NetworkRail, which will greatly enhance thislocation.

Sponsor: Borth Station Volunteers, Borth,Ceredigion

Designers: George Romary (Borth StationVolunteers), Borth, Ceredigion, Kathy Hosker,Ynyslas, Ceredigion & Iwan Jones, Talybont,Ceredigion

Contractor: Bryn Davies, Borth, Ceredigion

facilities, but these have been removed.The signal box is a minimal structure,which must have served only the stationlevel crossing, and possibly a siding.

Since the cessation of regular freighttraffic on the Wensleydale branch in1999, the line has been retained to servethe Catterick Garrison, with occasionalfreight trains operating to move militaryvehicles to or from Redmire. In 2003Network Rail leased the line to apreservation group, the WensleydaleRailway (WR), who also operate apassenger service from Leeming Bar toRedmire. However, the infrastructure

Above: Work in progress on the buildingAbove right: Platform gallery exposed

Above: Interior of refurbished booking hall

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

replacement was constructed by theLondon & North Western Railway 437yards (400 metres) to the north of theoriginal and this is the current station,built in yellow brick with the mainfacilities located alongside the viaductupon which the railway wasconstructed. During the early period ofits existence the station name was speltBerkhamstead.

The station was heavily refurbished inthe 1990s but recently has requiredfurther restoration work, particularly tothe subway and platform canopies.Initial work has been undertaken by thetrain operator, London Midland, withrefurbishment and redecoration of themain booking hall and the two stationentrances, together with repairs to thedoors to the platform waiting rooms,and the Trust has provided some supportto enable this to be effectively carried out.

The Trust awaits proposals for therefurbishment of the platform canopiesand it is anticipated that this will be thesubject of a future grant award.

Sponsor: London Midland, BirminghamArchitect: Seymour Harris Architecture,

BirminghamContractor: Murphy Group, Cannock,

Staffordshire


BERKHAMSTED STATION

The original station at Berkhamsted wasopened by the London & BirminghamRailway in October 1837. In 1875 a

DERBY STATION

Derby Station was originally built in the1840s to the design of FrancisThompson. The original station wasmassive, some 350 yards (320 metres)long, as was appropriate for the stationserving the headquarters of the MidlandRailway. The station survived, albeitheavily modified, until the early 1950s.As it had been partly bomb damaged inthe war it was then demolished andreplaced by a more modern structure.However, the southernmost part of thestation survived. This section, originallytwo storeys high, but with a third added

in 1853, fell into dereliction, and with avery poor quality finish where theoriginal building had been demolished,and a visually most-intrusive fire escapecombined with advancing dilapidation,its historic provenance could hardly berecognised.

The Trust has sponsored, along withNetwork Rail Commercial Property andthe East Midlands Regional DevelopmentAgency, a project to totally restore thebuilding over two financial years. Mostof the original interior has been lost, butsome features survive in one small area,and the Trust has asked for these to beretained. The removal of the fire escape,

provision of a new brick skin on thedemolished north face and restoration ofdoors and windows will provide a newsuite of modern offices in a much-improved, externally-restored building, agreat improvement of this historicstructure. We look forward to seeing thecompleted job in 2011/12.


Architect: Maber Associates Ltd, DerbyContractor: Osborne Rail, Bristol

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

Above: Frontage canopy reglazed and repainted Above: Booking hall redecorated and tidied

Above left: Underpanel detail to windowAbove centre: Cornice details remainAbove right: Refurbished roof & chimneys

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FEASIBILITY STUDIES ANDCONSERVATIONMANAGEMENT PLANS

The Trust normally gives grants forphysical works, but a small group,planning to take over a station, oftencannot afford the cost of preparing afeasibility study or a conservationmanagement plan. The Trust hassupported the production of three suchdocuments in 2010/11, and has alsohelped fund a conservation managementplan for a historic station on the mainline, with multiple users.

Fort Matilda is the penultimate stationon the Glasgow to Greenock line, in theeastern suburbs of Greenock. It is asingle-storey building, in DomesticRevival style, with a mixture of brickand timber frontage and screens, andthree particularly impressive chimneys.The building is in reasonable condition,having been used as site offices byNetwork Rail until recently. TheGreenock & District Model Railway Clubplans to convert the facility for its use,both for railway modelling andcommunity purpose, and the Trusthelped fund a conservation managementplan as part of the lead into theconversion. We look forward tosupporting the restoration of thebuilding in due course.

From 1885 March was a majorrailway junction, where the east – westline from Peterborough to Ely was joinedby the lines from Wisbech, and fromLincolnshire via Spalding. The stationbuildings are all single storey, and the

arched windows and balustrades at thefront of the main building, along withthe extensive canopies, are worthy ofnote.

Closure of the Spalding line reducedthe status of the station to a busy ruralone; as a result the station facilitiesprovided were considerably more thanthose needed by the industry, and allpassenger and commercial activitieswere concentrated on the westboundplatform, to the south of the railway.Only a waiting room and an officeremained in the large range of buildingson the eastbound platform, which formsan island between the Peterborough andthe removed Spalding lines. Althoughsome parts of the station have beendemolished it still represents an excellentexample of its type, and is worthy ofpreservation.

With active support from FenlandDistrict Council a group of local peopleformed the ‘Friends of March RailwayStation’, late in 2009. During 2010 theTrust supported the production of aconservation management plan to setout a strategic plan as to how the islandplatform buildings might be developed. Itis pleasing to see that the combinationof the enthusiasm of the Friends and thesupport of the council is alreadyshowing real improvements in thestation environment.

Tain is a small town on the shores ofDornoch Firth. Its station, opened in1864, was designed by Joseph Mitchell.It is an H-shaped, single-storey building,in local stone, with gable ends on thevarious sections, and a glazed slopingcanopy to the platform face. The stationhas not been staffed for many years, andthe building is boarded up.

In 2010/11 the Trust supported adesign and feasibility study to convertthe premises into a restaurant. The largearea of the building, and its associatedgardens, lend themselves to this use, andthe hope is that the restaurant will growits own vegetables, and involve localchildren in so doing.

The potential proprietor of therestaurant is now seeking funding tocarry out the work. The Trust hasoffered further financial support, andhopes that it will be possible to findenough other funding to enable thisexciting project to go ahead.

G T Andrews’ station at Whitby hasfeatured regularly in these Reports.


Left: Interior at Fort MatildaInset: Forecourt view of Fort Matilda

REVIEW OF PROJECTS

Whitby Station frontage

John Iv

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Partnership to fund a conservationmanagement plan, which effectively isthe design guide for the station. This hasbeen published, and signed off by all theparties involved. The challenge now,especially for Network Rail and NorthernRail, is to implement its findings with theexisting tenants of the station.

Fort Matilda StationSponsor: Greenock & District Model Railway Club,

Greenock, RenfrewshireConsultant: Fiona Sinclair, Architect, GlasgowMarch StationSponsor: Fenland District Council, March,

CambridgeshireConsultant: Potts Parry Ives + Young, YorkTain StationSponsor: Graham Rooney, Tain, Ross-shireConsultant: Macbeath Associates: Architects,

Invergordon, Ross-shireWhitby StationSponsor: Esk Valley Railway Development

Company, Whitby, North YorkshireConsultant: Potts Parry Ives + Young, York

extended in the 1980s and the platformareas are framed by plate footbridges ateach end of the building range. Thewestern bridge still displays cannon shellholes from a World War II strafing attackby a lone Luftwaffe raider.

Recently, as a result of theintroduction of revenue protection gatesto the station, fencing had to beincorporated to close off the platformareas. The Trust joined with CornwallCouncil and First Great Western toprovide funding support to ensure that asuitably authentic, GWR spear-topdesign of fencing was installed.Sponsor: First Great Western, Swindon, WiltshireContractor: Steelway Fensecure, Wolverhampton,

West Midlands

TRURO STATION

Truro Station is significant in that itrepresents an example of the standardGreat Western Railway (GWR) style ofmedium to large station constructed inthe final decade of the 19th century tothe designs of J E Danks and WLancaster Owen, and is unusual inCornwall.

The buildings are constructed in redbrick with blue engineering brick quoinsand details, and employ standard detailsfor windows, doors and canopy. Themost obvious architectural feature is thepair of truncated turrets capped withwrought-iron filigree and employed aspavilions in the main building range. Thestation ticket office and booking hall were

REVIEW OF PROJECTS


NATIONAL RAILWAYHERITAGE AWARDS

The Railway Heritage TrustConservation Award for 2010 waswon by Brading Town Council for therefurbishment of Brading Station andformer signal box on the Isle ofWight. The works were described inthe Trust’s Report for 2009/10.

Additionally, the following projectsto which the Trust gave grants werealso recipients of National RailwayHeritage Awards: EtchinghamBistro@the station (De EtchinghamCommunity Interest Company), StAlbans South Signal Box (St AlbansSignal Box Preservation Trust), SettleStation (The Settle-Carlisle RailwayDevelopment Company) and SheffieldTap (Pivovar Tap Limited).

However, the station has, in many ways,been a victim of its own success. All therooms in it are now commerciallyoccupied, with a variety of differingbusinesses. Unfortunately the outcomehas been that the station is nowdisplaying a number of differingbrandings, and the clean lines that

resulted from earlier Railway HeritageTrust-sponsored restorations are beinglost under posters and window displays.

The need to sign a second trainoperator, the North Yorkshire MoorsRailway, brought these issues to a head,and as a result all the key parties joinedwith the local Community Rail

Left: Interior of buildings at MarchBelow: General view of platform buildings atMarch

Above: General view of period railings

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GRANTS AND EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTIONS: 2010/11


NETWORK RAILThe Trust has supported 59 projects (2009/10: 47) with 60 grants, which totalled £1,863,084 (2009/10: £1,821,594). The grants funded repairand restoration work carried out on the heritage aspects of buildings and structures in Network Rail’s ownership. A total of nine grants wereeither cancelled or deferred.

BRB (RESIDUARY) LTDThe Trust supported no projects this year (2009/10: three), therefore there was no project funding (2009/10: £80,000). One grant wascancelled.

The projects were:NETWORK BRB (R) EXTERNAL EXTERNAL

RAIL BUDGET CONTR’B’N CONTR’B’NBUDGET GRANT NETWORK BRB (R)GRANT RAIL

Page £ £ £ £ENGLAND21 Bath Spa: Churchill Arches: Restoration 7,000 7,569 (1)

23 Bath Spa Station:– Southern canopy replacement 85,000 106,745 (2)

– Historic lift refurbishment 55,000 32,735 (3)

– Avonside House refurbishment 10,000 11,331 (4)

27 Berkhamsted Station: Upgrade of passenger facilities 16,500 24,638 (5)

19 Bermondsey: Spa Road Bridge: Refurbishment 12,000 19,000 (6)

6 Berwick-upon-Tweed: Royal Border Bridge: Illumination 70,000 100,000 (7)

Berwick-upon-Tweed Station: Feasibility study for the relocation of permanent way cabins 3,000 9,000 (8)

25 Brighton: Trafalgar Street Mural 500 5,500 (9)

4 Bromsgrove: Locomen’s Graves: Feasibility study for restoration 500 012 Chester Station:

– East wing offices: Repair & restoration works 54,144 0– Former storeroom: Conversion to Visitor Information Centre 1,000 0– Island platform: Repair & restoration works to west pavilion 16,053 73,494 (10)

– Island platform: Refurbished staff facilities in east pavilion & new central pavilion 16,054 82,506 (11)

16 Crewe Station: Relocation of war memorial to First Class lounge 1,024 1,023 (12)

20 Cromer Signal Box: Restoration & creation of museum 4,750 6,250 (13)

Crystal Palace Station: Station enhancement scheme (£160,000) CANCELLEDDarlington Station: Provision of heritage fencing (£25,000) CANCELLEDDenmark Hill Station: Repair & restoration works to former

stationmaster’s house (£108,000) CANCELLEDDerby Station:

16 – Restoration of war memorial 9,000 027 – Restoration of derelict original station 140,000 598,500 (14)

25 Great Malvern Station: Production of patterns for replacement lighting columns 4,477 5,444 (15)

14 Great Missenden Signal Box: Relocation to Mid Hants Railway 11,100 26,900 (16)

22 Hartlepool Station: Provision of a waiting room & heritage doors 62,500 126,097 (17)

19 Hebden Bridge Station: Upgrade of toilets & waiting room 10,000 56,000 (18)

9 Hexham Station: Provision of café in former kiosk 5,000 5,000 (19)

Huddersfield Station: Modernisation of platform 1 buildings (£115,000) DEFERRED17 Hutton Cranswick Station: Conversion of former booking office into

residential accommodation 10,000 14,537 (20)

15 Lancaster Station: Restoration of main cafeteria facility & rebrand as ‘Costa Coffee’ outlet 25,000 25,000 (21)

22 Leamington Spa Station: Refurbishment of waiting rooms 30,000 15,000 (22)

7 Leicester Station: Renewal of windows in porte-cochère 6,750 08 Lincoln Central Station: Heritage aspects of café conversion 10,000 22,923 (23)

21 Littleborough Station: Replacement heritage door 2,500 4,630 (24)

11 Liverpool Lime Street Station: Public realm works 100,000 400,000 (25)

24 London: Barnes Bridge: New parapet 70,000 0London Bridge: Crucifix Lane Arches: Stone & brick cleaning &

restoration (£22,000) CANCELLED17 London St Pancras Station: Provision of a plaque 395 395 (26)

6 Malvern Link Station: Provision & installation of replica GWR running-in boards 3,500 4,472 (27)

28 March Station: Production of a conservation management plan 2,000 3,750 (28)

Morpeth Station: Conversion to a restaurant (£85,000) CANCELLED5 Newcastle Station: Provision of heritage fencing 75,000 65,773 (29)

GRANTS AND EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTIONS: 2010/11


External contributions were from:(1) Bath Spa: Churchill Arches: Bath & North East Somerset Council(2) Bath Spa Station: Multi Development UK Ltd(3) Bath Spa Station: Multi Development UK Ltd(4) Bath Spa Station: Multi Development UK Ltd(5) Berkhamsted Station: London Midland(6) Bermondsey: Spa Road Bridge: London Borough of Southwark(7) Berwick-upon-Tweed: Royal Border Bridge: One North East (Market Towns

Welcome Programme)(8) Berwick-upon-Tweed Station: Northumberland County Council(9) Brighton: Trafalgar Street Mural: 5 Bel Trust, Littledale-Brough Trust, St Martin

Vintners, Others(10) Chester Station: Cheshire West and Chester Council, Heritage Lottery Fund(11) Chester Station: Arriva Trains Wales, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Heritage

Lottery Fund(12) Crewe Station: Virgin Trains(13) Cromer Signal Box: Cromer Town Council, Poppyland Partnership, Private

contributions/fund raising(14) Derby Station: East Midlands Regional Development Agency(15) Great Malvern Station: Malvern Town Council(16) Great Missenden Signal Box: Heritage Lottery Fund, Mid Hants Railway Ltd(17) Hartlepool Station: Hartlepool Borough Council, NSIP (DfT)(18) Hebden Bridge Station: Metro, Northern Rail(19) Hexham Station: Northumberland County Council(20) Hutton Cranswick Station: Sean Paxton(21) Lancaster Station: Caterleisure Ltd(22) Leamington Spa Station: Chiltern Railways, Friends of Leamington Station, Royal

Leamington Spa Town Council(23) Lincoln Central Station: Caterleisure Ltd(24) Littleborough Station: Littleborough Historical and Archaeological Society

(25) Liverpool Lime Street Station: ERDF, Homes & Communities Agency, NorthwestRegional Development Agency

(26) London St Pancras Station: The Roy F Burrows Midland Collection Trust(27) Malvern Link Station: Malvern Civic Society, Malvern Town Council(28) March Station: Fenland District Council(29) Newcastle Station: National Express East Coast(30) Queenstown Road Station: South West Trains(31) Ridgmont Station: Central Bedfordshire Council, Steel Charitable Trust (32) Sandown Station: Community Rail Partnership, South West Trains(33) Scruton Station: Voluntary labour, Wensleydale Railway Trust(34) Stroud Goods Shed: Stroud District Council, Stroud Town Council, Other

donations & fund raising(35) Truro Station: Cornwall Council, First Great Western(36) Whitby Station: Esk Valley Railway Development Company, North Yorkshire

Moors Railway, Northern Rail(37) Wroxham Signal Box: Wroxham Signalbox Trust(38) Wroxham Signal Box: Peter Bower(39) Yatton Station: Millennium Oak Trust, South West Regional Development Agency,

Strawberry Line Café Project CIC, Yatton Masons, Yatton Parish Council(40) Cupar Station: Cupar Fund, Fife Council, Stations Community Regeneration Fund,

Local appeal(41) Dumbarton Central Station: Chris Pollock, Stations Community Regeneration Fund(42) Fort Matilda Station: Greenock & District Model Railway Club(43) Kinghorn Station: Fife Council, Lynette Gray, Stations Community Regeneration

Fund, Voluntary labour(44) Tain Station: Graham Rooney(45) Borth Station: Arriva Trains Wales, Borth Station Volunteers(46) Llandovery Station: Carmarthenshire County Council, WAG Community Facilities

& Activities Programme

NETWORK BRB (R) EXTERNAL EXTERNALRAIL BUDGET CONTR’B’N CONTR’B’N

BUDGET GRANT NETWORK BRB (R)GRANT RAIL

Page £ £ £ £24 Newton-le-Willows Station: Heritage repairs 50,000 04 Queenstown Road Station: Refurbishment of booking hall & subway 75,000 88,617 (30)

18 Ridgmont Station: Regeneration of station buildings 85,000 46,300 (31)

16 Sandown Station: Restoration & refurbishment 50,000 69,964 (32)

26 Scruton Station: Building restoration 31,000 46,125 (33)

23 Sowerby Bridge Station: Security works to The Jubilee Refreshment Rooms 10,775 025 Spalding Station: Restoration works 24,000 07 Stoke-on-Trent Station: Refurbishment of downside entrance building 200,000 020 Stroud Goods Shed: Security works & repairs 55,000 80,368 (34)

17 Torquay Station: Refurbishment of upside accommodation 75,000 029 Truro Station: Installation of heritage fencing 12,848 12,849 (35)

8 Westenhanger Station: Repair & restoration works 50,000 013 Whaley Bridge Station: Internal & external refurbishment 20,000 028 Whitby Station: Production of a conservation management plan 830 4,420 (36)

11 Wroxham Signal Box:– Provision of replacement stairway 19,000 5,170 (37)

– Restoration works 11,500 11,500 (38)

10 Yatton Station: Building restoration to form community café 65,000 93,719 (39)

10 York: Drawings Conservation (two grants) (BRB (Residuary) Ltd grant: £5,000) 10,000 CANCELLED 0

SCOTLANDCorrour Signal Box: Wind & waterproofing works (£375) CANCELLED

5 Cupar Station: Restoration of former stationmaster’s flat as museum 15,000 40,445 (40)

13 Dumbarton Central Station: Reglazing of windows in café conversion 3,784 24,000 (41)

28 Fort Matilda Station: Production of a conservation management plan 1,200 2,325 (42)

Kilmarnock Station: Floral Clock redevelopment & enhancement works (£65,000) CANCELLED

14 Kinghorn Station: Conversion of former waiting room to form a gallery 9,000 13,223 (43)

Kyle of Lochalsh Signal Box: Repair, restoration & fitting out works (£65,000) DEFERRED28 Tain Station: Feasibility study for conversion to restaurant 2,000 3,000 (44)

WALES26 Borth Station: Restoration & conversion of space to museum area 17,400 17,069 (45)

9 Llandovery Station: Restoration & conversion of buildings for community use 40,000 60,000 (46)

1,863,084 0 2,473,306 0

COMBINED NETWORK RAIL AND BRB (RESIDUARY) LTD BUDGETS GRANT TOTAL 1,863,084

COMBINED NETWORK RAIL AND BRB (RESIDUARY) LTD EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOTAL 2,473,306

FINANCIAL REPORT

The Trust’s financial activities in 2010/11 are summarised as follows:

FUNDING ALLOCATED TO PROJECTS £By Network Rail 1,862,700By BRB (Residuary) Ltd *155,000

2,017,700

EXPENDED ON PROJECTS

60 Grants to Network Rail projects 1,863,0840 Grants to BRB (Residuary) Ltd projects 0

1,863,084

FUNDING FOR TRUST'S OPERATIONS

From Network Rail 188,300From BRB (Residuary) Ltd 10,000Total Income 198,300

Total Expenditure – Administration 198,313

* As no grants were awarded, this money was not utilised

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COMMENTARY

As I’ve settled into the job over the last two years I’ve begun to see some commonthemes in our historic stations, and I propose to use my report this year to try andsummarise them. However, before I do that, can I repeat my thanks to Malcolm andClaire for their on-going support and tolerance over the last year.

At a strategic level, it is impossible not to notice the difference in painting finishbetween the lower and upper part of some train operating company (TOC)-leasedstations. The contract between Network Rail and the TOCs, and the franchises betweenTOCs and government, have led to a much more frequent painting régime for thoseareas for which the TOCs are responsible. Unfortunately this can result in differingstandards of finish, and sometimes even contrasting colour schemes, at different levels ofthe same station. I would welcome any move to alter franchise agreements to make theStation Facility Operator responsible for all painting on a leased station, whilst retainingthe current franchise-driven pressure on regular painting.

There are a couple of areas where the industry does itself no favours. All too often Isee cables and conduits mounted on the exteriors of buildings without any thought as totheir appearance, or their interaction with features of the station such as string courses,window surrounds, etc. Even worse is when repairs and alterations are carried out on alisted structure without Listed Building Consent, which sometimes results in enforcementaction on the railway company concerned.

The Trust has now been in operation for over twenty six years, and some of the earlyprojects which it sponsored are now in need of further work to maintain their condition.Where routine repairs are needed the Trust is happy to see if it can support further workas part of a project. However, when a project has not been maintained, and the Trust isbeing asked to contribute to the restoration of a building that it did the same for acouple of decades ago, we are, perhaps, somewhat reluctant to give support, and likelyto ask some pointed questions.

Moving to a more general problem, the continuing amount of vandalism in our societyhas been an on-going concern. We were particularly saddened in the last year to learn ofthe attack on Barnham Signal Box, which we had funded the relocation of a year ago.Happily, the building is not lost, and we are working towards a further restoration. Amore specific issue is the regular theft of lead from buildings. We have seen severalprojects that we have supported being attacked for this purpose, and are in on-goingdiscussion with English Heritage about the possibility of using tern-coated steel as analternative that is less likely to be stolen.

Finally, I would mention the success of our web site. Over the last year we have beenable to refer those approaching us to the site, thus avoiding quite a lot of work for us.Even better, many of those who contact us about possible projects have already donetheir homework, reading up on our processes on the web site.Andy Savage, Executive Director

London

July 2011

THE TRUST’S ACCOUNTS: 2010/11


The Trust is registered in England and Wales as company number 1876790.

The Annual Report and Accounts coversthe operations of the Railway HeritageTrust during the period 1st April 2010 to31st March 2011.Established in 1985, the Trust is an

independent registered company limitedby guarantee, supported by Network Railand BRB (Residuary) Ltd, with the remit of:� the conservation and enhancement ofbuildings and structures owned bythese organisations that are listed orscheduled, or of special architecturalor historical interest; and

� to act as a catalyst between outsideparties and these owners on theconservation and alternative use ofnon-operational property, includingthe possible transfer of responsibilityto local trusts or other interestedorganisations.

In 2010/11, the Trust awarded 60 grantstowards the costs of 59 restoration andother projects. Ten grants were cancelledor deferred.

AUDITED ACCOUNTS

Price Firman, London, audited andapproved the Trust’s Accounts for2010/11.At the Trust’s Annual General Meeting

in July 2011 the Executive Boardconsidered, approved, adopted and signedthe audited Accounts and, as required bylaw, then deposited the signed Accountswith Companies House, accompanyingthe Trust’s Annual Return. Copies of theAccounts will also be presented to theBoards of both our sponsors.In their Report and Financial

Statements, 31st March 2011, theAuditors stated: ‘In our opinion thefinancial statements give a true and fairview of the state of the company’s affairsas at 31st March 2011 and of its profitfor the year then ended; have beenproperly prepared in accordance withUnited Kingdom Generally AcceptedAccounting Practice; and have beenprepared in accordance with therequirements of the Companies Act2006’. They further stated: ‘In ouropinion the information given in theDirectors’ Report for the financial year forwhich the financial statements areprepared is consistent with the financialstatements’.Price Firman, Chartered AccountantsRegistered AuditorLondonJuly 2011

Railway Heritage Trust 40 Melton Street, London NW1 2EE

Tel: 020 7557 8598 Fax: 020 7557 9700e-mail: [email protected]

www.railwayheritagetrust.co.uk

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2010/11

Documents

Transcript of ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2010/11