Privett railway station
Encyclopedia
Privett station was an intermediate station on the Meon Valley line
which ran from to during the first half of the 20th century. Named after the hamlet
of Privett
, the station was in fact over half a mile (1 kilometre) from its namesake and was built in largely uninhabited countryside.
to be re-named to avoid confusion. This followed an earlier dispute over the exact name of the station. It was originally to be named 'West Tisted', following the convention that stations were named after the parish
they were in. The family that owned Basing Park, the country estate on the edge of which the station was sited, insisted on the station being named Privett after the hamlet
that formed part of their estate. This matter, coupled to the station being sited far from any local settlements but close to the Basing Park house, led many to conclude that the station was built specifically for the owners of the Park. The fact that a new Carriage Drive
was built leading from the house to the station only led credence to this rumour. Like all the stations on the line Privett station accommodated double railway track and long platforms capable of serving 11-coach express trains. The large station buildings on the 'Down' platform (built in a highly-regarded Tudor Revival style) incorporated quite lavish passenger facilities including a large booking office with a tiled floor and a timber framed
roof, separate 'gentleman's' and 'ladies' waiting rooms (as well as a large passenger shelter on the 'Up' platform) and a refreshments room. The station building also contained the station master's
accommodation and other more functional rooms such as a goods office and lamp room. A signal box on the 'Up' platform controlled trains passing through the station as well as the extensive goods yard built to the south of the station site.
The Meon Valley Railway was a particularly difficult line to construct (It cost the equivalent of 27 million GBP, and took 6 years to build the 22-miles of line. Its most dramatic feature was the 1000 yards (914.4 m) Privett tunnel, the northern entrance of which was close to the station. The station was also the summit of the line, at 519 feet (158.2 m) above sea level
.
Given the station's remote location passenger numbers never matched the extensive facilities. In 1921, following the Meon Valley line's downgrading from a through route to a local line (see the line's main article
for more information) the 'Up' platform was closed, as was the signal box, which remained in use purely to control the goods yard. All trains now called alongside the main station buildings on the former 'Down' platform.
The station remained at 'half capacity' for the next 34 years. On the 7th February 1955 the station was closed (along with West Meon
and East Tisted
stations) and all services were withdrawn. The last train to call at the station was on the 8th February 1955 when an enthusiast's special called 'The Hampshireman' briefly stopped at the station the day after official closure.
The station became a private house. The platform canopy was removed during conversion. Until the 1970s a fish pond
occupied the former track space between the platforms but this has since been filled in.
Following the opening of the railway a public house
and hotel
was built across the Alton-Gosport road
from the station. This was initially named 'The Privett Bush' (a pun
on the common plant named Privet
). The hotel is still in business, now named 'The Angel'.
Meon Valley Railway
The Meon Valley Railway was a cross-country railway in Hampshire, England that ran for between Alton and Fareham, closely following the course of the River Meon. At its northern end, it joined with the Mid-Hants Railway to Winchester, the Alton Line to Brookwood and the Basingstoke and Alton...
which ran from to during the first half of the 20th century. Named after the hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
of Privett
Privett
Privett is a small village and conservation area in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is northwest of Petersfield, just off the A272 road. Its principal feature is Holy Trinity Church, designed by Arthur Blomfield and built at the expense of local landowner, businessman and...
, the station was in fact over half a mile (1 kilometre) from its namesake and was built in largely uninhabited countryside.
History
Opened on 1 June 1903 north of the village a few yards east of the Alton road, its only minor claim to fame was that it caused Privett Halt in GosportGosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
to be re-named to avoid confusion. This followed an earlier dispute over the exact name of the station. It was originally to be named 'West Tisted', following the convention that stations were named after the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
they were in. The family that owned Basing Park, the country estate on the edge of which the station was sited, insisted on the station being named Privett after the hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
that formed part of their estate. This matter, coupled to the station being sited far from any local settlements but close to the Basing Park house, led many to conclude that the station was built specifically for the owners of the Park. The fact that a new Carriage Drive
Driveway
A driveway is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group....
was built leading from the house to the station only led credence to this rumour. Like all the stations on the line Privett station accommodated double railway track and long platforms capable of serving 11-coach express trains. The large station buildings on the 'Down' platform (built in a highly-regarded Tudor Revival style) incorporated quite lavish passenger facilities including a large booking office with a tiled floor and a timber framed
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
roof, separate 'gentleman's' and 'ladies' waiting rooms (as well as a large passenger shelter on the 'Up' platform) and a refreshments room. The station building also contained the station master's
Station master
The station master was the person in charge of railway stations, in the United Kingdom and some other countries, before the modern age. He would manage the other station employees and would have responsibility for safety and the efficient running of the station...
accommodation and other more functional rooms such as a goods office and lamp room. A signal box on the 'Up' platform controlled trains passing through the station as well as the extensive goods yard built to the south of the station site.
The Meon Valley Railway was a particularly difficult line to construct (It cost the equivalent of 27 million GBP, and took 6 years to build the 22-miles of line. Its most dramatic feature was the 1000 yards (914.4 m) Privett tunnel, the northern entrance of which was close to the station. The station was also the summit of the line, at 519 feet (158.2 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Given the station's remote location passenger numbers never matched the extensive facilities. In 1921, following the Meon Valley line's downgrading from a through route to a local line (see the line's main article
Meon Valley Railway
The Meon Valley Railway was a cross-country railway in Hampshire, England that ran for between Alton and Fareham, closely following the course of the River Meon. At its northern end, it joined with the Mid-Hants Railway to Winchester, the Alton Line to Brookwood and the Basingstoke and Alton...
for more information) the 'Up' platform was closed, as was the signal box, which remained in use purely to control the goods yard. All trains now called alongside the main station buildings on the former 'Down' platform.
The station remained at 'half capacity' for the next 34 years. On the 7th February 1955 the station was closed (along with West Meon
West Meon railway station
West Meon railway station was an intermediate station on the Meon Valley line which ran from Alton to Fareham during the first half of the 20th century. Opened on 1 June 1903, it formed part of a comprehensive set of transport links serving the village. A particularly difficult line to construct...
and East Tisted
East Tisted railway station
Tisted was a railway station on the Meon Valley line which served the village of East Tisted.The last train, pulled by two T9 class locomotives , left on 6 February, 1955....
stations) and all services were withdrawn. The last train to call at the station was on the 8th February 1955 when an enthusiast's special called 'The Hampshireman' briefly stopped at the station the day after official closure.
The station became a private house. The platform canopy was removed during conversion. Until the 1970s a fish pond
Fish pond
A fish pond, or fishpond, is a controlled pond, artificial lake, or reservoir that is stocked with fish and is used in aquaculture for fish farming, or is used for recreational fishing or for ornamental purposes...
occupied the former track space between the platforms but this has since been filled in.
Following the opening of the railway a public house
Public 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...
and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
was built across the Alton-Gosport road
A32 road
The A32 is a road in Hampshire, southern England, that links Gosport and Alton. Starting at Gosport, facing Portsmouth, it travels north via Fareham, Wickham, Droxford, before joining the A31 road near Alton...
from the station. This was initially named 'The Privett Bush' (a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on the common plant named Privet
Privet
Privet was originally the name for the European semi-evergreen shrub Ligustrum vulgare, and later also for the more reliably evergreen Ligustrum ovalifolium , used extensively for privacy hedging. It is often suggested that the name privet is related to private, but the OED states that there is no...
). The hotel is still in business, now named 'The Angel'.