‘CLASSICAL’ CORWEN GETS CHATHAM CANOPY COLUMNS
Corwen’s new station is taking on a more railway-like appearance, with the erection of the canopy columns recovered from Blackfriars.
Four of the cast iron columns were installed on the platform around the entrance to the subway by a local engineering firm on July 4, “giving the impression of a Grecian Ionic temple” in the words of George Jones, spokesman for the Corwen Central Railway Development Project.
Cut down from their original size with new bottom attachments, they are the first of eight columns from the London, Chatham & Dover Railway terminus which will support the canopy at Corwen, with the foundations still to be laid for the remaining four.
They have been restored by volunteer Tony Cook, who has removed many layers of original paint, applied preservative and repainted them in BR Western Region colours, as well as repairing the decorative acanthus scrolls at the top using parts from five unused columns.
Trains are currently running only between Llangollen and Carrog, and the railway states on its website that services will not resume to Corwen until October 1. Mr Jones said: “An opening in the summer was hoped for, but it must be admitted this is now unlikely given the workload still to be completed.
“The Corwen project team has made no estimate as to when the station will open – it will be when all the work is complete and been inspected and passed by a competent person – and no such person has yet been appointed.”