New lease of life for Henley-in-Arden station
HENLEY-IN-ARDEN station – which serves the North Warwickshire Line also known as the Shakespeare Line, the southbound route of Vintage Trains’‘Shakespeare Express’ – has been given a major facelift.
Its original GWR station building of 1908, which had been left empty since the 1990s, has been repurposed into a stylish and welcoming community space and bar.
Concerned about the deterioration of the building and the developing signs of anti-social behaviour, local community group Friends of Henley Railway Station stepped into action to lead the major transformation. With the support of the Railway Heritage
Trust, Network Rail, West Midlands Railway and Henley-in-Arden Parish Council, the Friends carried out structural repairs to the building before reworking and renovating the space, which now houses a community bar and lounge equipped with IT facilities, which can be hired for small functions.
The building even accommodates its own micro-brewery which local residents will run, with their products being served in the bar alongside other local beers, local wines, soft drinks and snacks.
On February 22, representatives of all the groups involved in the refurbishment joined Network
Rail chairman Lord Peter Hendy for its official opening, who said:
“It is wonderful to see partners and volunteers coming together to put the railway at the heart of the local community.”
Angela Okey, chair of Friends of Henley Railway Station, said: “After living in Henley for several years and walking my dogs past the derelict building every morning, it saddened me to see the state of disrepair of what was once an iconic and beautiful landmark. The aim was always to make this a community project, and by involving local people with the same love of their town, it has been a delight to work on and watch the enthusiasm of everyone.
“As well as being a welcoming meeting place for residents, we hope it will attract more footfall to our beautiful town of Henley-in-Arden, which in turn will support our local businesses and traders.”
Railway Heritage Trust executive director Tim Hedley-Jones added: “We are pleased to have supported this project with grants to restore the building, and we have presented the station with a plaque to record its history, which Lord Peter Hendy has unveiled.”
All income and profits from the bar and community space will be invested back into the building, its facilities, and the station area.