Devizes railway station
Encyclopedia
Devizes railway station was the railway station serving Devizes
in Wiltshire
, England. The station was on the Devizes Branch Line, in between Pans Lane Halt and Bromham
& Rowde
Station.
had begun to construct their main lines. Devizes was regularly considered by GWR
as a main stop on its London to Bristol Line but lost out to Swindon
due to its lack of population and growth in the previous decade, expansion of only 5000 to 6500 in size. A station in Devizes was needed to support industry and agriculture in the town as the only other way out of the town was the Kennet and Avon Canal, opened in 1810, which has 29 locks and took 6 hours just to leave Devizes.
Although included in several plans for railway lines including the Thingley Junction to Westbury line and the Staverton 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 Holt Junction to Hungerford
. 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
. Its route required a tunnel to be dug directly underneath Devizes Castle.
between Patney and Chirton railway station and Westbury
which by-passed the steep gradients of Devizes and got from London to faster.
. Its failure to gain main line status, which would have saved it, was blamed on its low population, awkward geography and reduced traffic due to competition from the Chirton to Westbury line.
Today there is little trace of a railway station in Devizes. The roadbridge over the old Pans Lane Halt station and the footbridge at Devizes remain. The track was removed many years ago and is now covered by undergrowth. The tunnel built under Devizes Castle has been bricked up at one end and is a commercial property at the other end. And in place of Devizes Station now there is a public car park and a new property development, both located on Station Road.
Although Devizes was denied a railway station due to its stagnant population, today the population has grown to 14,000 which could warrant its re-establishment. However much of the vital land agreements and rights of way were sold off reducing the chances of reinstatement.
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...
in Wiltshire
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...
, England. The station was on the Devizes Branch Line, in between Pans Lane Halt and Bromham
Bromham
Bromham may refer to:* Bromham, Bedfordshire, a village in the county of Bedfordshire, England* Bromham, Wiltshire, a village in the county of Wiltshire, England...
& Rowde
Rowde
Rowde is a village and civil parish in the English county of Wiltshire.-History:The village now mainly consists of modern brick built houses, but a number of 17th century buildings still remain in the centre of the village including the George & Dragon public house...
Station.
Conception
The idea of having a railway station in Devizes was first conceived in 1830 before the Great Western RailwayGreat 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...
had begun to construct their main lines. Devizes was regularly considered by GWR
GWR
GWR is an acronym that can stand for:* Great Western Railway , the name of several different railway operators* The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway — a heritage railway that has taken the initials of the former Great Western Railway Company* Great Whipsnade Railway* GWR Group, former...
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 its lack of population and growth in the previous decade, expansion of only 5000 to 6500 in size. A station in Devizes was needed to support industry and agriculture in the town as the only other way out of the town was the Kennet and Avon Canal, opened in 1810, which has 29 locks and took 6 hours just to leave Devizes.
Although included in several plans for railway lines including the Thingley Junction to Westbury line and the Staverton 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 Holt Junction to Hungerford
Hungerford
Hungerford is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, 9 miles west of Newbury. It covers an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 5,559 .- Geography :...
. 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
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...
. Its route required a tunnel to be dug directly underneath Devizes Castle.
Opening
Devizes railway station opened on 1 July 1857, 21 years after its initial conception and one week ahead of schedule, much to the annoyance of the locals who were preparing a celebration. After starting with 7 trains a day services were reduced to four a day, most probably due to overinflated claims of traffic before it was built. Although Devizes opened as a branch line it was soon recognised as a stop on the route to London and received all kinds of traffic including passenger, freight goods and express trains. Devizes was later returned to Branch status in 1900 when the GWR opened the Stert and Westbury RailwayStert and Westbury Railway
The Stert and Westbury Railway was opened by the Great Western Railway Company in 1900 in Wiltshire, England. It shortened the distance between London Paddington station and , and since 1906 has also formed part of the Reading to Taunton line for a shorter journey from London to .-History:The Great...
between Patney and Chirton railway station and Westbury
Westbury railway station
Westbury railway station serves the town of Westbury, Wiltshire, England. The station is managed by First Great Western.The station is a major junction, serving the Reading to Plymouth Line with services to and from Penzance and London Paddington, the Wessex Main Line with services to and from...
which by-passed the steep gradients of Devizes and got from London to faster.
Closure
Devizes Station and the Devizes Branch Line was closed in 1966 under the Beeching AxeBeeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. Its failure to gain main line status, which would have saved it, was blamed on its low population, awkward geography and reduced traffic due to competition from the Chirton to Westbury line.
Today there is little trace of a railway station in Devizes. The roadbridge over the old Pans Lane Halt station and the footbridge at Devizes remain. The track was removed many years ago and is now covered by undergrowth. The tunnel built under Devizes Castle has been bricked up at one end and is a commercial property at the other end. And in place of Devizes Station now there is a public car park and a new property development, both located on Station Road.
Although Devizes was denied a railway station due to its stagnant population, today the population has grown to 14,000 which could warrant its re-establishment. However much of the vital land agreements and rights of way were sold off reducing the chances of reinstatement.
See also
- Devizes Branch Line
- Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth railways
- Pans Lane Halt station