image for illustration: Opening of Stockton & Darlington Railway painting by John Dobbin – Wikimedia Commons
Five heritage railway stations, alongside 2 other railway sites, have been listed at Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England, in recognition of their historic and architectural interest and to mark 200 years of the modern railway.
Historic England writes:
The earliest identified purpose-built railway pub in the world, the first of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s prototype stations, the Cleveland Bay, has been granted protection, alongside Weybourne Station and Sheringham Station, 2 village stations important in connecting the agricultural regions, fishing villages and tourist destinations of north Norfolk with the industrial heartland of the Midlands.
Havenstreet Railway Station on the Isle of Wight, a good example of a single-manned station which would have been operated by a lone railway worker, and Woody Bay Station in Devon, built to a ‘chalet style’ design reflecting the area’s nickname of ‘Little Switzerland’, have also been added to the List.
Two further sites have been listed at Grade II along the Swanage Railway heritage line: Swanage Engine Shed and Turntable, and Northbrook Road overbridge. The construction of Swanage Railway in 1885 contributed to the widespread use of Purbeck stone, and to the development of Swanage as a seaside destination.
These listings celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of modern passenger railway services with the opening of the Stockton Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825, an event which ultimately transformed the world.
Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, incoming Chief Executive (job share) Historic England [said] ‘The development of England’s railway system was one of the greatest achievements of the Victorian era. These new listings highlight key milestones in its growth and demonstrate how the railway has shaped our local places today. Every newly listed station announced today is open to the public to visit, so the protection of these sites means that they will continue to be seen and enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.’
The Stockton & Darlington Railway pioneered and influenced the early development of mainline railways. When it opened in 1825, concepts that we now take for granted had not been conceived, including that of the railway station. The Stockton & Darlington Railway shared its experience generously with visiting engineers and railway promoters, and was highly influential in the early development of other railways in England and abroad.
