Full steam ahead for station house sale
Station House, Womersley £425,000 www.richardkendall.co.uk
Built in 1846 in grand style, this magnificent station house incorporates a host of original features, including the original ticket office, hall, waiting rooms and open fires, while outside there is a paved railway platform.
Owners Malcolm and Christine Ramsdale bought the 2,400 sq ft property in 1981 from the station master who remained in the house after the station closed to passenger traffic in 1948.
The couple are now selling to downsize after almost 40 happy years there.
“It is the first entirely private sale of the property outside of railway influence since it was constructed,” says Mr Ramsdale, who was captivated by the architecture, which is unusually decorative for a small, branch line station.
“The grand presence and noticeable architecture likely resulted from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railways’ belief that it was in keeping with what was an estate village location.
“The estate belonged to Lord Roche and there were important visitors to the estate who came by train to this station, including the Queen Mother,” says Mr Ramsdale.
He added: “The branch line was built to carry tourists to what was the spa town of Askern. For us, the station house here has been a wonderful family home.”
When the couple first bought the property it was in need of work and the Ramsdales did a sterling job of renovating and modernising while retaining the historic features.
What was the ticket office is largely unchanged and now serves as a study and what was a waiting room is now a huge family room.
“We will miss the house when we move. It is a lovely spot by fields at the end of the village but we have lots of happy memories of living here,” says Mr Ramsdale.
The house has an entrance hallway, sitting room, separate dining room, kitchen and utility, ground floor cloakroom, a study, large sitting/family room, ticket office.
To the first floor, there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Outside, there is a garden that runs around the front, side and rear of the property.
There is also a gated driveway with ample parking for several cars and a garage to the rear.
To the side/rear is the original yorkshire-flagged train platform.
Contact: Richard Kendall, tel: 01924 291 294 , www.richardkendall.co.uk