Filleigh railway station
Encyclopedia
Filleigh railway station served a rural area of north Devon
between Barnstaple
and South Molton
. The station was on the Devon and Somerset Railway
that ran between Taunton
and Barnstaple
. The Devon and Somerset was operated by the Bristol and Exeter Railway
and was taken over with the B&E by the Great Western Railway
.
The section of the line between Wiveliscombe
and Barnstaple opened on 1 November 1873. Filleigh station was originally called Castle Hill, after the mansion owned by Earl Fortescue
, but was renamed in 1881 to avoid confusion with a station of the same name in West London (which was itself later renamed West Ealing
).
Filleigh was on a single track part of the line and had a single platform on the up side of the line (towards Taunton), where the main building was situated. A crossing loop was installed with a second platform in 1937, though no building or shelter was ever provided on this second platform. There was a goods yard to the west of the station, and goods were handled for destinations some distance to the north, including Lynton
and Lynmouth
. There was also a private siding to Lord Fortescue's estate.
Goods traffic was withdrawn from Filleigh in 1964 and the station closed to passenger traffic with the closure of the Devon and Somerset line on 3 October 1966. The station building was used as a house but was later demolished when the railway alignment was used for the North Devon Link Road.
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
between Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
and South Molton
South Molton
"Molton" redirects here. Or see Molten or Moulton.South Molton is a small town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of South Molton had a population of 4,093.The town was one of...
. The station was on the Devon and Somerset Railway
Devon and Somerset Railway
The Devon and Somerset Railway was a branch line from near in Somerset to in North Devon. It was operated from the outset by the Bristol and Exeter Railway which became part of the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1876.-History:...
that ran between Taunton
Taunton railway station
Taunton railway station is a junction station on the route from London to Penzance, from London Paddington station. It is situated in Taunton, Somerset, England and is operated by First Great Western...
and Barnstaple
Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station
Barnstaple Victoria Road railway station was the terminus of the Devon and Somerset Railway line from Taunton railway station. It served the town of Barnstaple in Devon, England and was opened when the Devon and Somerset line was extended from Wiveliscombe to Barnstaple on 1 November...
. The Devon and Somerset was operated by the Bristol and Exeter Railway
Bristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
and was taken over with the B&E by the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
.
The section of the line between Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe railway station
Wiveliscombe railway station served the town of Wiveliscombe in Somerset. It was on the Devon and Somerset Railway that ran between Taunton and Barnstaple...
and Barnstaple opened on 1 November 1873. Filleigh station was originally called Castle Hill, after the mansion owned by Earl Fortescue
Earl Fortescue
Earl Fortescue is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain created in 1789. The Fortescue family descends from Sir Hugh Fortescue of Filleigh, Devon, who died in 1719. His first wife's first cousin had been 13th Baron Clinton and 5th Earl of Lincoln...
, but was renamed in 1881 to avoid confusion with a station of the same name in West London (which was itself later renamed West Ealing
West Ealing railway station
West Ealing railway station was opened in 1871 as "Castle Hill and Ealing Dene" on the Great Western Railway, which was constructed from Paddington through Ealing to Bristol in 1836-8....
).
Filleigh was on a single track part of the line and had a single platform on the up side of the line (towards Taunton), where the main building was situated. A crossing loop was installed with a second platform in 1937, though no building or shelter was ever provided on this second platform. There was a goods yard to the west of the station, and goods were handled for destinations some distance to the north, including Lynton
Lynton
Lynton is a small town in Devon, England. It lies on the northern edge of Exmoor and is located at the top of a gorge above Lynmouth, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway...
and Lynmouth
Lynmouth
Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
. There was also a private siding to Lord Fortescue's estate.
Goods traffic was withdrawn from Filleigh in 1964 and the station closed to passenger traffic with the closure of the Devon and Somerset line on 3 October 1966. The station building was used as a house but was later demolished when the railway alignment was used for the North Devon Link Road.