Helmdon railway station served the village and civil parish of Helmdon in Northamptonshire on the former Great Central Main Line (GCR). It was the second of two stations in the parish, the first being Helmdon Village on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway.
Helmdon | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Location | Helmdon, West Northamptonshire England |
| Grid reference | SP586430 |
| Platforms | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Status | Disused |
| History | |
| Original company | Great Central Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Great Central Railway |
| Post-grouping | London and North Eastern Railway London Midland Region of British Railways |
| Key dates | |
| 15 March 1899 | Opened as Helmdon |
| 1928 | Renamed Helmdon for Sulgrave |
| 4 March 1963 | station closed |
| 1966 | line closed |
History
edit
The GCR main line was the last main line to be built from northern England to London.[1] It opened for passenger services on 15 March 1899 and for goods services in April.[2] The station, originally named "Helmdon", opened with the line on 15 March 1899.[3]
From the station the line ran northwards on an embankment before crossing the valley on the nine-arch Helmdon Viaduct[4] over the River Tove.
Helmdon was the nearest station for Sulgrave Manor, which had been the home of George Washington's ancestors in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the 1920s the house was restored and opened as a museum, and due to this connection the LNER renamed Helmdon station "Helmdon for Sulgrave" in 1928.[3]
British Railways closed the station to passengers on 4 March 1963[3] and to goods on 2 November 1964.[5] In 1966 BR closed the line and the station was demolished. The platforms remain albeit largely hidden in the undergrowth.[6] [update]The viaduct remains.
Route
edit| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brackley Central Line and station closed |
Great Central Railway London Extension |
Culworth Line and station closed |
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
- Dow, George (1962). Great Central. Vol. Two: Dominion of Watkin, 1864–1899. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1469-8.
- Mitchell, Victor E.; Smith, Keith (2006). Aylesbury to Rugby. Midland Main Lines. Midhurst: Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1-904474-91-3.
External links
edit52°04′58″N 1°08′45″W / 52.0828°N 1.1459°W
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