Much Wenlock railway station

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.

Much Wenlock railway station
Postcard stamped 1914
General information
LocationMuch Wenlock, Shropshire
England
Coordinates52.599249°N 2.556918°W / 52.599249; -2.556918
Grid referenceSJ624003
Platforms1
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyMuch Wenlock and Severn Junction Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
1 February 1862Opened
23 July 1962 [1]Closed

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 - at some date between March and September 1866 [3] (but definitely before September 1867 [4]).

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".[5]

The passenger service to Craven Arms was withdrawn from 31 December 1951,[6] but the service to Wellington continued until withdrawn from 23 July 1962.[7]

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. Analysis of minutes of director's meetings at The National Archives (RAIL 502/2)
  4. Lt.Col. F H Rich's report (TNA MT6/49/7) of inspection carried out on 12 September 1867 of the extension to Marsh Farm Junction (Craven Arms)
  5. Born Out of Wenlock, William Penny Brookes and the British origins of the modern Olympics. p. xi(plates).Caption to picture of the station.
  6. The Times, 31 December 1951
  7. 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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