Once smashed to pieces, a classic NER tile map is home again
IN 1987, Bridlington’s iconic NER tiled map was smashed up as the original parts of the station – including platforms 1, 2 and 3 – were demolished.
The map was believed to have been lost for good but with help from some railway historian friends, Rachel Osborne, of the Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership, managed to track the remaining tiles down.
They ended up in a barrow at Hull Paragon station where they were stored for a few years, during which time it is believed that many were taken by local collectors.
The remaining tiles were eventually purchased by the North Eastern Railway Association and stored at the home of one of their members; Ann Los agreed to donate the tiles to the YCCRP so they could be restored. The YCCRP have funded the work, which was carried out by craftsman John Edmond, of Hunmanby. He has cleaned the tiles and attached them in their rightful places to a scale print of a complete tiled map.
The end product has been encased in a frame and on January 17 was returned to its rightful home on Bridlington station concourse, where it was unveiled by Bridlington’s deputy mayor, Coun Mike Heslop-Mullins, at the YCCRP’s Brew Monday event at the station.
The map has been restored in such a way that any more missing tiles can be added if they are found. The YCCRP is appealing for the return of the lost tiles and is asking for those with any to make contact via its Facebook page.