Devizes branch
Encyclopedia
The Devizes Branch Line was a railway line from Holt Junction, Wiltshire to Patney and Chirton, Wiltshire
, and named after Devizes
, the largest town on the line. It was built by the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, and was later bought up by the Great Western Railway
. At one point the Devizes line provided a direct link from London
to the West Country
.
was first conceived in 1830 before the Great Western Railway
(GWR) had begun to construct their main lines. Devizes was regularly considered by the GWR as a main stop on its London to Bristol Line but lost out to Swindon
due to lack of potential traffic from Devizes.
Although included in several plans for railway lines including the Thingley Junction to Westbury line and the Starvarton and Bathampton line, the financial backing required wasn't available and the fact that Devizes is so high above sea level made it impossible and so as a result Devizes was left without a station. In 1846 it was decided the Devizes line would run from to Devizes. In 1854 work finally commenced on the Devizes Branch. It was built in 1857 by the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, an independent company, though they were heavily backed by the Great Western Railway. The Devizes Branch Line opened in 1857, 21 years after its initial conception.
The GWR later extended their - line via in 1862 to meet at Devizes creating a direct link from London to Bristol
which was quicker than any other line. This was the busiest period for the Devizes line but it returned to being a branch line in 1900 when the - link was built to reduce journey time by avoiding the steep inclines in Devizes.
's modernisation plans. The closure of the line can be accounted for by the awkward geography of the Devizes line and the falling amount of traffic since the rival railway line opened and the increasing popularity of modern transport.
Apart from a few remaining bridges and tunnels there is little evidence of the railway on the landscape, and after the closure of the line, all stations and halts were destroyed in 1970.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and named after Devizes
Devizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
, the largest town on the line. It was built by the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, and was later bought up 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...
. At one point the Devizes line provided a direct link from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
.
History
The idea of having a railway line going through DevizesDevizes
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. The town is about southeast of Chippenham and about east of Trowbridge.Devizes serves as a centre for banks, solicitors and shops, with a large open market place where a market is held once a week...
was first conceived in 1830 before 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...
(GWR) had begun to construct their main lines. Devizes was regularly considered by the GWR as a main stop on its London to Bristol Line but lost out to Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
due to lack of potential traffic from Devizes.
Although included in several plans for railway lines including the Thingley Junction to Westbury line and the Starvarton and Bathampton line, the financial backing required wasn't available and the fact that Devizes is so high above sea level made it impossible and so as a result Devizes was left without a station. In 1846 it was decided the Devizes line would run from to Devizes. In 1854 work finally commenced on the Devizes Branch. It was built in 1857 by the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, an independent company, though they were heavily backed by the Great Western Railway. The Devizes Branch Line opened in 1857, 21 years after its initial conception.
The GWR later extended their - line via in 1862 to meet at Devizes creating a direct link from London to Bristol
Bristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
which was quicker than any other line. This was the busiest period for the Devizes line but it returned to being a branch line in 1900 when the - link was built to reduce journey time by avoiding the steep inclines in Devizes.
Closure
The Devizes Branch line and all of its stations closed in 1966 under British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
's modernisation plans. The closure of the line can be accounted for by the awkward geography of the Devizes line and the falling amount of traffic since the rival railway line opened and the increasing popularity of modern transport.
Apart from a few remaining bridges and tunnels there is little evidence of the railway on the landscape, and after the closure of the line, all stations and halts were destroyed in 1970.
See also
- Devizes Station
- Pans Lane Halt station
- Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth RailwayWilts, Somerset and Weymouth RailwayThe Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway was a broad gauge railway that linked the Great Western Railway at Chippenham in 'Wilts' with Weymouth in Dorset, England. Branches ran to Devizes, Bradford-on-Avon and Salisbury in Wiltshire, and to Radstock in Somerset. The majority of the line survives...
- Great Western RailwayGreat Western RailwayThe 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...