Wappenham railway station
Encyclopedia
Wappenham was a railway station on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
(SMJ) which served the Northamptonshire
village of Wappenham
between 1872 and 1951. Serving a relatively rural area, the station saw considerable goods traffic generated by local farming communities, but passenger traffic was low which ultimately led to its closure. The station was among the first to close on the SMJ and marked the beginning of the years of decline of the line.
. A small wayside station was constructed in an isolated spot about a mile from the village of Wappenham
from which it took its name. A single-platform was provided on the down side, with a single siding
goods yard to the east. The siding was linked to the main line at each end, forming a loop which enabled the yard to be shunted by up or down trains. A symmetrical red brick station building crowned by two large chimneys, similar in style to those at and on the East Gloucestershire Railway, was situated next to the platform and had a central door which led to the waiting room and a separate ladies' waiting room, as well as the ticket and parcels offices; staff accommodation was at the east end of the structure whilst the gentleman's toilets were at the opposite end.
The station served as a useful railhead not only for Wappenham, but also the nearby villages of Slapton
and Abthorpe
, whose farming communities made use of it for hay
and cattle
traffic. The station's siding was also of use to RAF Silverstone
during the Second World War. Passenger traffic was however sparse, Wappenham was only a small village of 383 people in 1901, and it was one of the least successful in terms of passenger traffic on the line. By the early 1950s, the limited services between and Banbury
were attracting very few passengers and this resulted in the line's closure to passengers from Monday 2 July 1951, the final trains running on the previous Saturday. Goods traffic continued for three more months.
works has been built on the former railway alignment.
Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway
The Stratford Upon Avon & Midland Junction Railway was a small independent railway company which ran a line across the empty, untouched centre of England. It visited the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a little of Buckinghamshire, only existing as the SMJR from 1909 to...
(SMJ) which served the Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
village of Wappenham
Wappenham
Wappenham is a linear village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is south-west of Towcester, north of Syresham and north-west of Silverstone and forms part of the district of South Northamptonshire...
between 1872 and 1951. Serving a relatively rural area, the station saw considerable goods traffic generated by local farming communities, but passenger traffic was low which ultimately led to its closure. The station was among the first to close on the SMJ and marked the beginning of the years of decline of the line.
History
In August 1871, the Northampton and Banbury Junction Railway extended its line from to HelmdonHelmdon Village railway station
Helmdon Village was a railway station on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway which served the Northamptonshire village of Helmdon between 1872 and 1951. The station was one of two serving the relatively rural area which generated little passenger traffic on the SMJ and ultimately...
. A small wayside station was constructed in an isolated spot about a mile from the village of Wappenham
Wappenham
Wappenham is a linear village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is south-west of Towcester, north of Syresham and north-west of Silverstone and forms part of the district of South Northamptonshire...
from which it took its name. A single-platform was provided on the down side, with a single siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
goods yard to the east. The siding was linked to the main line at each end, forming a loop which enabled the yard to be shunted by up or down trains. A symmetrical red brick station building crowned by two large chimneys, similar in style to those at and on the East Gloucestershire Railway, was situated next to the platform and had a central door which led to the waiting room and a separate ladies' waiting room, as well as the ticket and parcels offices; staff accommodation was at the east end of the structure whilst the gentleman's toilets were at the opposite end.
The station served as a useful railhead not only for Wappenham, but also the nearby villages of Slapton
Slapton, Northamptonshire
Slapton is a small village in South Northamptonshire, England, about from Towcester and the same from Silverstone. It is close to the A43 road which links the M40 motorway junction 10 with the M1 junction 15A at Northampton...
and Abthorpe
Abthorpe
Abthorpe is a village and civil parish in the valley of the River Tove in South Northamptonshire, about west of Towcester, northwest of Silverstone and about midway between London and Birmingham....
, whose farming communities made use of it for hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
traffic. The station's siding was also of use to RAF Silverstone
RAF Silverstone
RAF Silverstone, located in Northamptonshire, was a Royal Air Force bomber station opened in 1943 during World War II.The station was the base for No. 17 Operational Training Unit operating the Vickers Wellington bomber....
during the Second World War. Passenger traffic was however sparse, Wappenham was only a small village of 383 people in 1901, and it was one of the least successful in terms of passenger traffic on the line. By the early 1950s, the limited services between and Banbury
Banbury Merton Street railway station
Banbury Merton Street was the first railway station to serve the Oxfordshire market town of Banbury in England. It opened in 1850 as the northern terminus of the Buckinghamshire Railway providing connections to Bletchley and Oxford and closing for passengers in 1961 and goods in 1966.- Context...
were attracting very few passengers and this resulted in the line's closure to passengers from Monday 2 July 1951, the final trains running on the previous Saturday. Goods traffic continued for three more months.
Routes
Present day
The station buildings were demolished after closure and a sewage treatmentSewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
works has been built on the former railway alignment.