Bakewell railway station
Encyclopedia
Bakewell railway station was a railway station built to serve the town of Bakewell
in Derbyshire
, England
by the Midland Railway
on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
line from Rowsley
.
it was built in a grand style as the local station for the Duke of Rutland
over whose land the line had passed. Designed by Edward Walters of Manchester, the buildings were of fine ashlar with intricate carvings which incorporated the Duke's coat of arms.
Since the line was climbing steeply towards its summit at Peak Forest
, the station was located uphill about half a mile from the town, which became a disadvantage when road transport developed.
The most busy time was during the Bakewell Show
but was also popular with campers and tourists. In later years it featured a camping coach in the siding.
In the Grouping
of all lines (into four main companies) in 1923 the station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
.
During the nationalisation of Britain's railways in 1948 the station was passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways
, and finally succoming to the fall of the Beeching
axe in 1967.
In time the station was replaced with Bakewell
industrial estate, the station building is still in use as a warehouse along with the platforms (but the gap between platforms have been filled in to facilitate the Monsal Trail
).
Ridged canopies existed over the platforms, and a goods shed and cattle dock, All have since been removed.
Plus restoring/renovating both Haddon Tunnel and Coombes Road Viaduct to their former use along the way as time and finances could "someday" allow.
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway ran from a junction with the Midland Railway at Ambergate to Rowsley north of Matlock and thence to Buxton....
line from Rowsley
Rowsley railway station
Rowsley railway station was opened in 1849 by the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway to serve the village of Rowsley in Derbyshire.-Opening:...
.
History
Being the nearest station to Haddon HallHaddon Hall
Haddon Hall is an English country house on the River Wye at Bakewell, Derbyshire, one of the seats of the Duke of Rutland, occupied by Lord Edward Manners and his family. In form a medieval manor house, it has been described as "the most complete and most interesting house of [its]...
it was built in a grand style as the local station for the Duke of Rutland
Duke of Rutland
Earl of Rutland and Duke of Rutland are titles in the peerage of England, derived from Rutland, a county in the East Midlands of England. The Earl of Rutland was elevated to the status of Duke in 1703 and the titles were merged....
over whose land the line had passed. Designed by Edward Walters of Manchester, the buildings were of fine ashlar with intricate carvings which incorporated the Duke's coat of arms.
Since the line was climbing steeply towards its summit at Peak Forest
Peak Forest railway station
Peak Forest railway station was opened in 1867 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley, part of the main Midland Line from Manchester to London. It was also the northern junction for the line from Buxton. It closed in...
, the station was located uphill about half a mile from the town, which became a disadvantage when road transport developed.
The most busy time was during the Bakewell Show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
but was also popular with campers and tourists. In later years it featured a camping coach in the siding.
In the Grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of all lines (into four main companies) in 1923 the station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
.
During the nationalisation of Britain's railways in 1948 the station was passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
, and finally succoming to the fall of the Beeching
Richard Beeching
Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching , commonly known as Doctor Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer...
axe in 1967.
Closure
The station buildings still survive. They are perched high above the town due to the alignment that the railway was forced to take.In time the station was replaced with Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
industrial estate, the station building is still in use as a warehouse along with the platforms (but the gap between platforms have been filled in to facilitate the Monsal Trail
Monsal Trail
The Monsal Trail is a cycle, horse riding and walking trail in the Derbyshire Peak District.-Route description:It follows a section of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, built by the Midland Railway in 1863 to link Manchester with London...
).
Ridged canopies existed over the platforms, and a goods shed and cattle dock, All have since been removed.
Preservation
Peak Rail plans to extend to Bakewell via a proposed Rowsley North railway station and Haddon Halt in the future as finances allow. This would involve reinstating the entire station to its former use as it would require disinfilling the platform whole "reverting" to former trackbed level to re-allow trains into the site itself especially restoring the entire station to its former glory.Plus restoring/renovating both Haddon Tunnel and Coombes Road Viaduct to their former use along the way as time and finances could "someday" allow.