Hurn railway station
Encyclopedia
Hurn was a railway station in the county of Hampshire
(now Dorset
), opened on 13 November 1862 by the Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway. Becoming part of the London and South Western Railway
, it was taken into the Southern Railway
in the grouping
of 1923 and closed on 30 September 1935.
. The requirement for Avon Lodge Halt was written into the Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway Act 1859 (c.xcv) which authorised the line.
The station was initially an untimetabled private halt, but later was opened to the public and appeared on timetables from 15 January 1863. It changed its name to "Hurn" from July 1897, having originally opened as "Herne".
left the Ringwood line as somewhat of a backwater. At beginning of the 1920s Hurn averaged just 22 ticket sales per day, this number dropping to only 7 by the end of the decade. Neighbouring Avon Lodge Halt was faring little better and generated some £50 in annual revenue. After the closure of the line's signalbox in 1927, Hurn was manned by a single stationmaster for the remaining eight years of its life. The final train ran on 28 September 1935, the line officially closing two days later.
with restaurant, the "Avon Causeway Hotel". The establishment has a railway-theme and a Pullman Carriage
together with a shunting locomotive stands on a short section of track at the restored platform and is used for additional dining facilities. The Pullman (No. 340) was delivered to the Hotel at Easter 1979.
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
(now Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
), opened on 13 November 1862 by the Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway. Becoming part of the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
, it was taken into the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
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 1923 and closed on 30 September 1935.
Construction
The route adopted by the Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway passed through several miles of land owned by Lord Malmesbury who, as a condition of the sale of his land to the railway, required that two private halts be provided: the first to serve his Heron Court (later Hurn Court) residence and the second for his tenants and staff at Avon CottageAvon Lodge railway station
Avon Lodge was a private untimetabled railway station in the county of Hampshire , opened on 3 November 1862 by the Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway...
. The requirement for Avon Lodge Halt was written into the Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway Act 1859 (c.xcv) which authorised the line.
The station was initially an untimetabled private halt, but later was opened to the public and appeared on timetables from 15 January 1863. It changed its name to "Hurn" from July 1897, having originally opened as "Herne".
Decline
Closure of the Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth line was first considered in 1920 due to dwindling passenger numbers. The opening in 1888 of a more direct route to London via Poole and New MiltonSouth Western Main Line
The South Western Main Line is a railway line between London Waterloo and Weymouth on the Dorset coast, in the south of England. It is a major railway which serves many important commuter areas, as well as the major settlements of Southampton and Bournemouth...
left the Ringwood line as somewhat of a backwater. At beginning of the 1920s Hurn averaged just 22 ticket sales per day, this number dropping to only 7 by the end of the decade. Neighbouring Avon Lodge Halt was faring little better and generated some £50 in annual revenue. After the closure of the line's signalbox in 1927, Hurn was manned by a single stationmaster for the remaining eight years of its life. The final train ran on 28 September 1935, the line officially closing two days later.
The site today
Having remained derelict for many years, the station building and part of the platform were redeveloped into a public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
with restaurant, the "Avon Causeway Hotel". The establishment has a railway-theme and a Pullman Carriage
Pullman train (UK)
Pullman trains in Great Britain were mainline luxury railway services that operated with first-class coaches and a steward service, provided by the British Pullman Car Company.-Origins:...
together with a shunting locomotive stands on a short section of track at the restored platform and is used for additional dining facilities. The Pullman (No. 340) was delivered to the Hotel at Easter 1979.