Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

I think there are relatively few ash trees on Exmoor, so the L & B will not be too badly affected?

 

I'm not completely familiar with the area but looking at Google maps I assume the station in Parracombe will be sited where the former station was, near to the church? Was an alternative site considered, away from the houses but equally convenient (inconvenient?) for the village?

 

No I don't. I've fitted more than a few. Attic conversions are one of the few available ways of enlarging the liveable space in a house without increasing the footprint, which the planners are not keen on.
I live in Bath, and consequently nearly all of my work is on older buildings. I try to find a balance between heritage conservation and making homes fit for life and expectations in the 21st century, which can be difficult. When someone has spent 1 1/2million quid on a four storey town house, they expect to be able to live in it without huge compromises. Currently making the staircases sound in a house. When that is done, the top floor has a 6inch fall across a 10' wide room which needs sorting out without disturbing the ceiling of the room below.

 

That is quite a difference! One might expect that in a timber framed house, but surprising for an 18th century town house.
Residual bomb damage?

 

>>>>I'm not completely familiar with the area but looking at Google maps I assume the station in Parracombe will be sited where the former station was, near to the church?

Yes. The modern bungalow now on that site will be demolished.

>>> Was an alternative site considered, away from the houses but equally convenient (inconvenient?) for the village?

I don't know for certain, but I doubt it. For a start, there are few - if any - other suitable location(s) with sufficient extra width of trackbed in that area. Secondly, it would not fit in with the railway's heritage 'ethos' of preserving/replacing as much of the original as possible. You can do that at PE, so no reason to build elsewhere, whereas at Lynton almost certainly it will have to be a new station at a new location.

 

I asked the same question a couple of days back and got TINA'd.

Many thanks for so comprehensive a reply. That explains a lot, even though it's definitely one of those cases of appreciating rather than "liking",

 

Its true, though- there really is no alternative. In the kilometre or so from Killington Lane to Parracombe halt, the course of the line is either in cutting, on embankment, completely inaccessible, or a combination of those. The only place where the trackbed is on reasonably flat and accessible land is just south of Killington Lane Bridge, and such a proposal might just be viewed as outright cynicism by all concerned.
Apart from the siting of the new terminus at Lynton, Parracombe is probably the largest socio- topographical challenge that the entire revival will face.

 

Sir Humphrey lives!

 

The answer is there was an alternative site that was considered but it was back in 2006/7, and that would have been Heddon Hall Halt, a small triangle of land was even purchased for a run round loop (lets not forget it was the thorpe park carriages back then) the purchase of trackbed between Killington lane and Cricket field lane was purchased in early 2009, Killington lane bridge was i believe drawn and costed at the time too, 'Extension of the railway to Cricket field lane will therefore be as beneficial to Heddon Hall as it will be to the L&B' (magazine 81 p33). many issues would have been much simpler back then with probably a lot less objection but alas that did not happen as the new management at the time had their sights set on bigger things so it would seem, unfortunately back around 2019 a working weekend was held along the trackbed near Heddon Hall and the owners at the time (it has recently been up for sale) were upset about some of the works apparently.

 

"Indeed, the report is on my desk as we speak.
On the subject of "lives", that of course, is an entirely separate and, indeed subjective matter- allow me to explain, prime minister..."

 

I just googled Heddon Hall to see its location and it is indeed up for sale now. Looks nice, but a little bit over my budget.

https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/prope...parracombe-barnstaple-devon-ex31/exe012140118

Does it include any trackbed?

 

The railway own all the trackbed down to Parracombe

 

With the current drop in the value of the pound it'll be a snip for an overseas buyer !

 

Yes, it is a considerable difference. As the room is about 22' long, floorboards run the length, only a 9' ceiling, chair rail etc, and the worst of the fall is from the door to the nearest corner on opp. wall, it is really disconcerting. You literally have to stop yourself falling over as if you'd just stepped off a roundabout.
The house is approx 1838- so quite a new one for Bath. Nearest bombs were about 200yards away, as far as the records show. Currently, I have no idea what has caused this floor to drop, and the floor below was re-worked in the 80's, that may have been the same. When I lift the floorboards I'll maybe get some idea of the cause.

 

Interestingly the land with this property is now being offered in two lots. One of 20.25 which includes the house and land up to the drive and the second of 17.24 acres which is the land either side of the trackbed. If I remember correctly when the property was on the market earlier in the year everything was included. Having looked at the brochure it shows the trackbed - but there is no explanation what the strip of land is. I wonder what the agent says to prospective buyers when they ask about it.

 

Dont show your kids the details or they will want a ballroom with a sprung floor to be built for their 18th Birthdays as well

 

they better be quick as the pound is gaining ground again

 

That would be fun if a pro rail enthusiast was to buy it and had cash to spare

 

Is the use of the turntable proposed at Parracombe similar to the WW&FR shown in this video? Looks rather easier with no. 9 (9 mins) than with no. 7 (23 mins).

https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/wiscasset-waterville-and-farmington-railway.1421538/