A feature by Sheila and John Hall together with their son Aidan
With many thanks to Sheila and John Hall and of course Aidan for allowing us see the long and painstaking business of restoring and old station.
With many thanks to Sheila and John Hall and of course Aidan for allowing us see the long and painstaking business of restoring and old station.
For more information please contact Aidan Hall on his web site Click here www.kingsbridge-branch.co.uk.
The Station as we bought it in 1971 from the rear (road side) of the station. The lead had been stripped from the box gutter between the station roof and the platform canopy but someone in the village had relined the stripped out gutters with aluminium and saved major damage. Copyright Sheila Hall
The Station as we brought in in 1971 from the track side of the station. The platform canopy roof was rotted wooden tongue and groove covered with felt which shut out the light. We replaced it with clear fibreglass sheets which John Hall (new owner) laid up at a local boatyard as you could not get sheets the width of the platform and joins were unsightly. Copyright Sheila Hall
If a caption said it all it would say “What have we just brought? ” Sheila Hall (new owner) is pictured in the photo. The car came for free! Despite the forlorn exterior the Station had not been vandalised. All railway memorabilia had been taken away to be resold although one or two choice pieces were returned to me by enterprising ‘preservationists’ who had spirited them away ‘for safety reasons’! Copyright Sheila Hall
The rear of the station with the goods shed and main station buildings after clearing of the brambles. With the overgrowth removed the building was remarkably clean. The central toilet block stands out clearly, with a patchy block work wall alongside for privacy. Where the track left the Station on the downside towards Kingsbridge there was an embankment which created a huge hollow on the east side into which we tipped all the building rubble as we demolished. One of our friends had two teenage sons eager to do some demolition. They demolished the old car to a rough cube which was tipped into the embankment ‘pit’. Copyright Sheila Hall
The station after removal of the brambles. John Hall in the picture. Note the lettering on the station walls. We have been told these were for maintenance purposes, painting, repairs etc.
Another day of tidying up (John Hall and his mother Jane) Copyright Sheila Hall
Conversion awaits! Looking in the Kingsbridge direction. Copyright Sheila Hall
The station siding which once held camping coaches (looking towards Brent direction). The track had gone but the ridges where the sleepers lay were there.This was where the camping coaches stood. There was a water tap at the far right hand corner and we dug up many clay pipes, broken crockery and human flotsam and jetsam. Note the standard British Rail concrete post and wire fence crossing the picture. Copyright Sheila Hall
A wider view of the siding and station yard. In what looks to be a hedge at the very end is the station cattle docks. Part of the station yard was separately owned and was purchased by more recent owners of the station to expand their land and which became a beautiful wildflower meadow. Copyright Sheila Hall
View of the Station from the station yard, Kingsbridge direction. From this angle the Station looks squat and tiny, a well sheltered site. Under the trees in the right foreground was the’Pump Trolley Shed’ and the ground frame for the points which gave access to the siding. We found the mechanism but it had been broken up. We also found the grease pot with the angled brush still in it. Copyright Sheila Hall
The station siding was partially filled with soil purchased from a Devon bank at Malborough. The siding made an excellent vegetable patch! The underlying ballast gave excellent drainage. Copyright Sheila Hall
Removing the chimney – In order to accommodate the alterations the middle chimney had to be removed. This was not light work and the granite stones took two to lift. To protect the roof old doors had been strapped across the slates. The first stone from the top of the chimney was high and too heavy and bounced down across the doors embedding into the ground below by 6 inches! John Hall and Mick Quick are removing the chimney. Copyright Sheila Hall
What a lovely photograph - comment from the webmaster. Work continues on the chimney late into the evening. Copyright Sheila Hall
Demolition and alterations – To turn the station into a home the toilet block (which included a gents urinal, gents toilet, ladies toilet, lamp room and store) had to be removed with only the road side wall remaining for the new development. The remaining doorway led to the gents urinal and toilet. There was another doorway to the right of this door to a store room. Copyright Sheila Hall
Demolition in progress by John Hall from the track side of the station. The doorway in this picture was for the lamp room, it smelt heavily of paraffin and oil. Copyright Sheila Hall
Demolition of the toilet block viewed from the trackside. Copyright Sheila Hall
Continued demolition of the toilet block. Shortly after this photo the wall in front collapsed without warning! Copyright Sheila Hall
Digging for the drainage. The original station drains ran away from the position on the camera (down valley) yet upon planning application the Council planners insisted the drains ran towards the camera position (up valley). Where was the logic! Copyright Sheila Hall
The start of construction – The two station buildings were joined together by the modern structure. Copyright Sheila Hall
'All hands on deck' - necessary to clear out the rubbish. Copyright Sheila Hall
New drains go in. The doorway in the background led from the ladies waiting room into the ladies toilet. The fireplace was in the original lamp room. Copyright Sheila Hall
Construction under way. Copyright Sheila Hall
The modern part starting to take shape. Copyright Sheila Hall
Laying drainage. Goods office/weighbridge in view. Copyright Sheila Hall
Let there be light – A new window was put into the goods shed to allow in plenty of light. Prior to conversion the goods shed had no windows. Copyright Sheila Hall
Restoration of the canopy – This took place before the deconstruction of the toilet block. The beam in this picture had to be replaced as it was rotten (Brent side of the canopy). Due to the original timber sizes no longer being available the new beam had to be made of two pieces of wood bolted together. The original beam reached across the whole station and the new beam was joined to the original undamaged part of the old beam at the wall plate. For some reason this cast iron canopy support was replaced in the railways years with a less decorative one. The canopy had 4 supports in total. Copyright Sheila Hall
Cannopy restoration. Copyright Sheila Hall
Cannopy work. John Hall up the ladder. Copyright Sheila Hall
Painting the canopy – Sheila Hall on the tower. Copyright Sheila Hall
What a lovely outlook. Copyright Sheila Hall.
Roofing the canopy – You can quite clearly see the differing canopy supports (3 cast iron of similar design and one distinctly different. No one has ever identified the year this was replaced. To lift the renewed end beam into place John Hall used a supporting pole which a gang of men heaved the beam up with. When it was in place we liked the way the pole added a framed dimension to the canopy so John made another one to complement the southern corner. Copyright Sheila Hall
Canopy restoration complete (John Hall up on the tower) You can see what a difference the clear roof makes. Copyright Sheila Hall
Construction if the entrance porch. The old stone doorways were so beautifully tooled that we replaced them where we could. Copyright Sheila Hall.
The entrance porch. Copyright Sheila Hall.
The entrance porch. Copyright Sheila Hall.
Redevelopment complete - looking towards Kingsbridge. Copyright Sheila Hall
The completed station. what a wonderful job they have done. This picture copyright Sheila Hall
A view of the station from across the valley - it blends into the landscape so well.
Copyright Sheila Hall.
Many thanks to the Hall family for giving us the privilege of seeing into their massive and very worthwhile project. Also many thanks for a most interesting article.