Much Wenlock railway station

Former railway station in Shropshire, England

52°35′57″N 2°33′25″W / 52.599249°N 2.556918°W / 52.599249; -2.556918Grid referenceSJ624003Platforms1Other informationStatusDisusedHistoryOriginal companyMuch Wenlock and Severn Junction RailwayPre-groupingGreat Western RailwayPost-groupingGreat Western RailwayKey dates1 February 1862Opened19 April 1866resited23 July 1962 [1]Closed

The original Much Wenlock railway station was opened 1 February 1862 by the Much Wenlock and Severn Junction Railway, linking Buildwas with Much Wenlock. The line later formed part of the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway and was, for much of its working life, operated by the Great Western Railway.

The original, but temporary, dead-ended station - whose buildings are now the club house of Much Wenlock Bowling Club.[2] - was replaced by the through station illustrated - about ¼ mile (ca. 400 metres) further east on 19 April 1866[3] for the extension to Marsh Farm Junction (Craven Arms)).

The latter station was built at the gates of the Games Field where the Wenlock Olympian Games were held. The buildings were commented on by Pierre de Coubertin when on his visit to the 1890 games, he likened them to "a delightful cottage".[4]

The passenger service to Craven Arms was withdrawn from 31 December 1951,[5] but the service to Wellington continued until withdrawn from 23 July 1962.[6]

Present day

Today the station building is a private dwelling. The section of former railway line to Buildwas is now a footpath.

References

  1. ^ Railway Magazine, August 1962
  2. ^ Beale, Catherine (2011). Born Out of Wenlock, William Penny Brookes and the British origins of the modern Olympics. DB Publishing, Derby. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-85983-967-6.
  3. ^ Railway Passenger Stations by M.Quick page 327
  4. ^ Born Out of Wenlock, William Penny Brookes and the British origins of the modern Olympics. p. xi(plates).Caption to picture of the station.
  5. ^ The Times, 31 December 1951
  6. ^ Railway Magazine, August 1962

Further reading

  • Jones, Ken (1998). The Wenlock Branch. Oakwood Press.
  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2008). Craven Arms to Wellington. Middleton Press. figs. 34-50. ISBN 9781906008338. OCLC 750867075.
  • Knowles, Adrian (2022). The Wellington, Much Wenlock and Craven Arms Railway. Lydney: Lightmoor Press. ISBN 9781911038993.


Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Farley Halt
Line and station closed 		  Great Western Railway
Wellington to Craven Arms Railway 		  Westwood Halt
Line and station closed
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Closed railway stations in Shropshire
Bishops Castle RailwayCleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors
Light RailwayCoalport branch lineMinsterley branch lineMuch Wenlock and Severn Junction RailwayOswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch RailwayOswestry and Newtown Railway
Severn Valley RailwayShrewsbury and Birmingham RailwayShrewsbury and Chester RailwayShrewsbury and Hereford RailwayShrewsbury and Welshpool RailwayShropshire and Montgomeryshire RailwayShropshire Union RailwaysTanat Valley Light RailwayTenbury and Bewdley RailwayWellington and Drayton RailwayWellington and Severn Junction RailwayWrexham and Ellesmere RailwayOther


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