A Station for Broadway but not Bourton

For some years, the Glos Warks Rly has been looking for a replacement for the long demolished brick built station at Broadway. As the line extends northwards and the opportunity to catch a heritage train from Broadway to Cheltenham once more approaches reality, the need to find a replacement building is becoming more important. At one time, the charming Cotswold stone station building at Bourton on the Water was considered to be the best option even though it was felt that it might be somewhat small for the needs of the new railway presence at Broadway. However, from their latest news site, the GWR has now reluctantly decided that Bourton will now not go to Broadway.

http://www.gwsr.com/news/latest-news/bourton-not-for-broadway.aspx

The original Broadway station was very similar to the surviving one at Toddington, 5 miles south, which itself was lucky to escape demolition. Bourton station itself, having survived for so long, is now also under threat and it is hoped that the building can still be saved; it might be of interest to another heritage line. Having caught a train from Bourton to Cheltenham myself (in 1962 just before the line closed!) I wish that Bourton station was still open as the line from Cheltenham to Kingham would have been a tourist goldmine. However, that was not to be and so it remains standing, at the moment, and belongs to the local council.

Pictures of the Bourton Station can be found here:

http://disused-rlys.fotopic.net/c903019.html

 

How about Flax Bourton?

 

With this I doubt the building can be saved now, what other lines would want it?
A shame but there you go.

 

Any use at Norton Fitzwarren ?.

 

They already got a eye on another building I think.

 

Yes, it would be nice at Corwen, but it would be great if it could stay where it was and be used for something else. I do hope that this station building is saved as it has survived so long because another use was found for it after closure of the Kingham Line in 1962 (Glos Council storage). Ironically,Toddington Station on the GWR was used as a store for the adjacent garden centre which is the only reason it survived too and why the similar stations at Broadway and Winchcombe did not. Whilst not being particularly noteworthy and not an inspirational edifice, Bourton on the Water Station is a very nice example of an art deco rural station which, externally, looks rather like a plain Cotswold cottage with cotswold stone walls and tiles - something some people pay a fortune for these days (well, until recently!). The current Bourton example is not original, being built on the site of a very "Hansel and Gretal" looking building (dating from 1862) by the GWR in the mid 1930s. The same happened at the next station, Stow on the Wold, where the 1862 station was also replaced by a (smaller) example in Cotswold stone but this has now been incorporated into a private house. If Bourton can't be saved (and we can't save everything) I'd like to think that some of the building's structure (doors, booking office etc) can at least be incorporated into a building on a nearby heritage railway.

 

Who currently owns the building and Bourton - is it still the council?

What is the reason for its threatened demise? Is a new development planned or is it just not needed & not wanted?

 

This article should clear up any questions about its future and current ownership. It seems that unless someone makes an offer soon, its time will be up.

Chris

 

Yes, as the article says, the building has been owned by the Gloucestershire County Council for many years (the old Station Yard becoming a Council depot). Now the depot is closed and the Council wants to build a 75 bed care home on the site which is not unreasonable given the fact that Bourton on the Water attracts many retired people and the population in that lovely part of England is ageing somewhat. However, the station building is not particularly special in the eyes of the local authority (which is somewhat strange as the Cotswolds is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the planners can be pretty draconian with planning applications etc. Unfortunately, in my biased view, the station building is actually very attractive (much more so that the 21st Century light commercial estate that has grown up around it) but the local authority wants it gone. As I said in my previous post, I just hope some of the parts of the structure can find a home on a local heritage line. I'm sure much of the stone and tiles will be salvaged as they tend to command highish prices.
What wouldn't I give to be able to travel from Kingham to Cheltenham behind "large Prairie" 4141 like I did in 1962?! It's nice to dream but at least we saved the Cheltenham to Broadway line!

 

Shame the GWSR cant buy it and store it for evetual use on the Broadway to Honeybourne section. Bit far ahead I suppose, but shame to see a nice original type station get demolished

 

A bit of forward thinking may pay large dividends. The East Somerset railway have stored their station and Peak rail have stored their Matlock goods shed.

 

I would have thought that the cost of dismantling, marking up, transportation & Storage would be fairly expensive in itself, of course subsequent rebuilding would also not be cheap but I would imagine that this initial outlay might be the largest hurdle. Would be a terrible shame for it to just be demolished as there are only a finite amount of railway station buildings left.

 

Had someone thought to go for "Listed" status for the building there might have been some grants available to help save it. Probably too late now though.

 

I'm not sure whether this has been done, or even tried. However, I'm sure that it should have been done if it hasn't been. The current owner (Glos CC) would not have the same view of the structure that some others might have however. I agree that it's probably too late now and I don't live near there anymore.

 

Whilst were on the subject of the Cotswolds line, they have also issued a statement regards the Honeybourne site.-

http://www.gwsr.com/news/latest-news/co ... r-gwr.aspx

Nice to see forward planning, same as when the new A44 cotswolds by-pass was built just north of Broadway, the companies had the forsight to build a bridge of the trackbed rather than straight over it and let the railway deal with it in years to come (something like the ski-jump at the ELR!)

Once the line gets to Honeybourne (in many years to come though!) it wont half help the line I reckon, mainline connection (finally get a Western on it then!) particullary with raceday excursions for the Gold cup etc. Also the railway could probably gain access to the Long Marston site then as well as its connected still -
http://petertandy.co.uk/longmarston%20page.html

But still got to get to Broadway first, then I think its another 4-5 miles of track to be relaid to honeybourne. Good times ahead

 

This is just my view, but I hope it's shared by others, but without the link to Honeybourne the Glos Warks Railway will miss out on so much, including through specials from the National Network to Cheltenham Races. It was always the intention of the Glos Warks Railway to reinstate as much as possible of the Honeybourne Line from Cheltenham to Stratford and, given the fact that it has never had a major bankroller, it has done pretty well so far. The reconnection to Honeybourne is definitely possible and, as has been shown here, is being planned for (for once!). Of course I want it to happen tomorrow but I must be patient! Going back onto thread, Bourton Station would actually look quite good at Honeybourne! (Although again it might not be big enough.)

 

the bridge under the A44 was built to accommodate Sustrans who own the trackbed from just north of Broadway to Honeybourne. as they use it as a cycle path I fear there is little hope of the railway getting past Broadway.

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I think the ownership of this section has always been hazey, It is thought BR never sold it years ago, so the GWSR were trying to sort it out, not heard anything since for years.

This section of line is still overgrown I believe, and dont think network rail are preparing the honeybourne site for cyclists!!!!!!!

Lets hope the gwsr get it sorted.