Granton Gasworks railway station

Granton Gasworks railway station was a private railway station built to serve the Granton Gasworks in Granton, Edinburgh, Scotland that operated from 1902 to 1942. After laying vacant for decades, the station was brought back into use in 2023 as Granton Station Creative Works, a creative enterprise hub operated by the arts charity Wasps.

Not to be confused with Granton railway station.
Granton Gasworks railway station
Granton Gasworks railway station in February 2023.
General information
LocationGranton, Edinburgh
Scotland
Coordinates55.978334°N 3.2413191°W / 55.978334; -3.2413191
Grid referenceNT226768
Owned byCity of Edinburgh Council
Platforms2
Construction
ArchitectWalter Ralph Herring
Architectural styleClassical Edwardian
Other information
StatusDisused; redeveloped
History
Original companyCaledonian Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1902Opened
1942Closed
Listed Building – Category B
Official name4 Marine Drive and 11 West Shore Road, Granton Gasworks, Former Station/Office, including Railway Platform
Designated10 November 1998
Reference no.LB45794

History
A National Transport Trust plaque affixed to the station.

Granton Gasworks railway station was developed by the Caledonian Railway to carry workers to and from the Granton Gasworks, which lay a short distance to the west.[1] A private station built for the Edinburgh and Leith Gas Commissioners, it was a terminal station linked to the Granton branch of the Caledonian Railway. Designed by Walter Ralph Herring (the chief engineer for the Granton Gasworks), construction of the station began in 1898.[2] Services to the station commenced operation in October 1902,[1][2] with the station being formally opened on 27 February 1903 by the Lady Provost of Edinburgh, Barbara Steel.[2][3] In addition to its transport role, the station also served as an office for the Gasworks and housed clocking-in machines for the workers as well as toilets and lockers.[4][5] Until 1923, when the Caledonian Railway was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, Gasworks workers were able to travel to and from Edinburgh Princes Street railway station at no cost.[2]

The station is two storeys high, built in a classical Edwardian style in red and yellow brick with ashlar sandstone dressings. The building bears decorative shields with the coat of arms of Edinburgh and Leith.[6] The station had two platforms, one to the north and one to the south.[6] A footbridge previously connected the station to the Gasworks to the west over the sidings. The station was granted category 'B' listed status by Historic Scotland in 1998, being described as "a good example of stately corporation architecture applied to an industrial site".[1][6] Writing in 1984, Gifford, McWilliam, and Walker described the "bizarre and stately architecture [...] all red brick with yellow trim".[7]

The station was closed in 1942 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway as alternative transport links to the area had improved. During the Second World War, it was identified by Nazi Germany as a potential bombing target but was never attacked.[3] The station lay largely disused for the next 81 years[8] while much of the surrounding land was redeveloped.[2] In 2000, Foster and Partners brought forward plans for a wider redevelopment of the Granton Gasworks that included the retention of the station.[9]

In 2018, Granton Gasworks railway station was acquired by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of the wider Granton Waterfront regeneration.[10] In 2020, the Council announced plans to redevelop the station into an "enterprise hub", with the adjacent former sidings to the west to be turned into a civic square.[8] Designs for the redevelopment were prepared by ADP Architecture.[11][12] Work commenced in June 2021.[13] In August 2021, the City of Edinburgh Council announced that the enterprise hub would be operated under a lease by the arts charity Wasps.[11][14] In December 2022, the new civic square won a Future Cities Forum Winter Award in the "masterplanning - regeneration and mixed use" category.[12] The civic square formally opened on 11 March 2023, being named "Granton Station Square".[8][15]

References
  1. "Edinburgh, Granton Gasworks, Former Station". Canmore. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. Deacon, Nick (October 2022). "Granton Gasworks" (PDF). Railway Bylines. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. "Granton Gas Works Train Station". CuriousEdinburgh.org. 15 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  4. "Granton Gas Works". Disused-Stations.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. "Granton Gas Works". GrantonHistory.org. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023. To the east of the retort house was the railway station. The building there also contained the time office – workers were required to pass through turnstiles on their way into and out of the works. This building also contained lavatories, bathrooms, and lockers for the men to store their outdoor clothing. A footbridge over the railway lines led to the works itself.
  6. "4 Marine Drive and 11 West Shore Road, Granton Gasworks, Former Station/Office, including Railway Platform". HistoricEnvironment.scot. Historic Environment Scotland. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  7. Gifford, John; McWilliam, Colin; Walker, David (1984). The Buildings of Scotland – Edinburgh. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-140710-68-7. ...today's prosaic installations have little in common with the bizarre and stately architecture designed for the Edinburgh and Leith Corporation Gas Commissioners by W R Herring in 1898, all red brick with yellow trim.
  8. Swanson, Ian (12 March 2023). "Edinburgh's historic Granton station to be transformed into enterprise hub". Edinburgh Evening News. National World. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  9. "Green plan for gasworks Park-based proposal to regenerate brownfield Granton site but gasometers would have to go". The Herald. 8 April 2000. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  10. Quinn, Kevin (15 July 2020). "Opening of Granton Station Square in Edinburgh marks first major milestone of £1.3bn Granton Waterfront regeneration". Edinburgh Evening News. National World. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  11. McLean, David (26 September 2022). "Edinburgh photos show spectacular restoration of abandoned station ahead of opening". EdinburghLive.co.uk. Reach plc. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  12. Hunt, Claire (21 December 2022). "Granton Station Square wins a Future Cities Forum Award". ADP-Architecture.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  13. Stephen, Phyllis (23 June 2021). "Granton Station – work begins". The Edinburgh Reporter. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  14. Pickering, Dave (13 August 2021). "Green light for Wasps to get Granton Station buzzing". North Edinburgh News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  15. Fitzpatrick, Tara; Stafford, Indigo (11 March 2023). "Fire breaks out near newly opened station square". STV.TV. STV Group. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
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