Last original Southwold Railway building restored to its former glory
HALESWORTH to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway Society volunteers have completed the first phase of the Blythburgh station project by finishing the 16-month-long restoration of the 1879 goods shed.
The last original surviving building from the 3ft branch line was in a poor state in 2019, completely covered in thick vegetation with two trees growing through it and several tons of fly-tipped rubbish inside, facilitated by the destruction of half of the southern wall.
The society’s co-chairman, James Hewett, reached agreement with its owner, Sir Charles Blois, to restore it and work began that year.
A complete survey of the shed was completed, with Oliver Densham of the Southwold Railway Trust producing the necessary architectural drawing, and the society’s Harry Wild working out what timber would be needed.
Sir Charles helped with the rubbish, moving it with his tele-lifter and disposing of it.
The society and the owner set out to retain as much of the original fabric as possible. The entire structure was slightly raised, and a new base-plate inserted, and the structural uprights were re-used or mended with half-laps in oak. The main roof beams were half-lapped at their rotten northern ends.
What was reusable of the vertical cladding, an important feature, was rotated from the north and west to the more visible south and east. The completely disintegrated corrugated iron roof was replaced by a mix of second-hand and new sheets.
Two of the four unusual opening ‘louvres’ on the south side were repairable, and a small number of new parts were made by hand by the society’s blacksmith, Jamie Hughes. The doors were also repairable.
Detail
The finish is creosote inside, with the brickwork lime-washed. The outside and roof are bitumen, and the outside brickwork was repointed with lime mortar – all as original.
The surrounding area has had parts of two 3ft gauge sidings relaid using a mix of original and new rails, and has been cleared, levelled, and seeded with a wild woodland grass and flower mix, and 50 hedge whips planted as a weather break. A paling fence of the original design, unique to this railway, has also been erected.
The entire project was funded by donations from members and supporters.
Phase two will see a history display installed inside, explaining how the station was used during 50 years of the railway, comprising a typical wagon with a load, appropriate goods items on the internal platform, artefacts found during the work, and an information board. Organised groups will be shown around the building and surroundings. The ornate platform running-in board will also be restored and displayed.
On the final day of work in 2020, new volunteer Tim Royall rediscovered a corner of the longlost foundations of the station booking hall and waiting room. Work continues on excavating the foundations and assembling artefacts found among the debris.
The society was founded in 2018 as a non-profit community group, dedicated to the restoration as far as possible of the western part of the original line from the Halesworth end. It is complementary to the Southwold-based Southwold Railway Trust, with which many members and volunteers are shared.
Track has been laid on two parts of the original main line at Halesworth, and a workshop established at a private farm in the valley, where there are two locomotives, two wagons, and the beginning of a coach.
New members can join at www. halesworthtosouthwoldrailway.co.uk