Heritage Railway

Stay in a restored signalbox right by the main line!

- By Robin Jones

THE disused Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway signalbox on the main line at Hebden Bridge is to become a community-run heritage centre – and visitors will be able to stay in it overnight.

After three years of campaignin­g in conjunctio­n with the Friends of Hebden Bridge Station, the local Calder Valley Community Land Trust has been awarded a £99,600 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to preserve the Grade II listed building. It has been empty since 2018, when the line's signalling was modernised, and has suffered from bouts of vandalism.

The structure still contains the original L&Y signal lever frame which was installed in 1891. The trust will oversee the restoratio­n of the interior of the signalbox and will install a computer simulation, allowing visitors to use the existing signal levers to virtually experience taking a train through the Hebden Bridge line.

The National Lottery is also supporting the appointmen­t of a project officer to work with locals, including schools and youth organisati­ons, to enable visitors to better understand the 'box's history.

A series of oral recordings will be made of the experience­s of former signal operators. The ground floor of the structure will be adapted and available for visitors looking for quirky overnight accommodat­ion. Income from paying guests will help to fund maintenanc­e of the fabric of the signalbox.

Further support

The project is supported by the Railway Heritage Trust and an initial £4500 grant from Hebden Royd Town Council has enabled the trust, a community benefit society, to commission local architect Jacquie Milham, of Architecto­nic Design, to prepare the necessary drawings.

Network Rail said it supports a leasehold transfer of the building to the trust, and the relevant discussion­s are now taking place.

Trust chairman Simon Brearley said: “We now have almost all the pieces together for the project to go ahead.

“This will be a heritage building which, we believe, will attract interest not just from Calderdale but also from across the whole of the north of England.”

David Renwick, director, England, North at the National Lottery, said: “We are proud to support Calder Valley Community Land Trust in this innovative project that sees our industrial heritage celebrated in a new fashion and also creates an interestin­g and commercial­ly sustainabl­e future for the signalbox.”

Dale Clarke, property services manager for Network Rail, said: “As we continue to improve the railway and upgrade the signalling system to bring more reliable journeys for passengers, it's great that people will be able to learn more about the history of the railway in the area.”

Elsewhere, Network Rail has been given listed building consent by Warrington Borough Council's planning department to refurbish the London & North Western Railway Monks Siding signalbox in Sankey Bridges.

Built in 1875, the two-storey timber framed structure on Quay Fold, next to the line linking Warrington Bank Quay and Liverpool South Parkway stations, still retains its original 20-lever tumbler frame. The ground floor houses signalling equipment, which is operated by a signaller from the first floor.

The planning applicatio­n stated: “The proposed developmen­t is considered necessary to improve and extend the safe operation of the station.

“This in turn preserves the building's character and use. The proposal will not be to the detriment of the building's historic character.”

 ?? NETWORK RAIL ?? Hebden Bridge signalbox is to be turned into a heritage centre, offering visitor accommodat­ion overlookin­g the main line.
NETWORK RAIL Hebden Bridge signalbox is to be turned into a heritage centre, offering visitor accommodat­ion overlookin­g the main line.
 ?? STEPHEN MCKAY/CREATIVE COMMONS ?? Monks Siding ‘box in Sankey Bridges.
STEPHEN MCKAY/CREATIVE COMMONS Monks Siding ‘box in Sankey Bridges.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom