The Wenlock Branch from Harton Road Station to Marsh Farm Junction and Craven Arms

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This article follows on from seven other articles which covered the Wellington to Severn Junction Railway and this line from Buildwas to Harton Road Station. The first three articles can be found by clicking on these links:

Wellington to Horsehay [8]

Horsehay to Lightmoor Junction [9]

Lightmoor Junction to Buildwas [10]

The most recent articles cover this line between Buildwas and Harton Road Station and can be found on these links:

Buildwas to Much Wenlock [11]

Much Wenlock to Presthope [12]

Presthope to Longville-in-the-Dale [13]

Longville Railway Station to Harton Road Railway Station [14]

We noted in the last three articles that from the commencement of the building of the line between Buildwas and Much Wenlock, the directors hoped that the line could be extended to Craven Arms via Presthope on Wenlock Edge (linking with the limestone quarries/works at that location).

The directors of the Wellington & Severn Junction Railway were, however, fully occupied with the line from Wellington to Buildwas. Another company was set up to build the ‘Wenlock & Craven Arms and Coalbrookdale Extension Railway‘. The bill went through the parliamentary process unopposed and authorised the ‘Wenlock Railway Company‘ to construct the line. Work started on 23rd October 1861.

By 5th December 1864, the line was open from Much Wenlock to Presthope. (That length is covered in the last but one online article listed above.) At this time, because it was a freight-only line, the Board of Trade saw no need for an inspection of the line. It had already been agreed at a meeting held on 4th December 1863 not to proceed with the line from Presthope to Craven Arms for the time being. It was to be three years after the line reached Presthope before the connection to the Shrewsbury & Hereford Railway close to Craven Arms was completed. It was finally opened on 16th December 1867.

Harton Road Station to Craven Arms

Harton Road Station to Marsh Farm Junction as shown on the Ordnance Survey Landranger Series mapping. [20]

We start our onward journey at Harton Road Station which is now a private dwelling. The station building and platform were on the North side of the line. There was a loop to the West of the passenger facilities which could act as an unloading/loading point for goods or even, possibly, as a passing loop if required.

Harton Road station building and platform. [6]
An enlarged extract from the 6″ Ordnance Survey of 1882 9published 1883. [15]
An extract from the precontract plans held at the Shrewsbury Archive shows the original road alignment at this location, lined in red, before the advent of the railway and its necessary diversion to accommodate the railway. These precontract plans were orientated in respect to the North point so as to get the greatest possible length of the proposed railway onto each sheet, © Shropshire Archives Ref. No. 6008/26 copyright reserved, used by kind permission. [5][My photograph of the plan, 5th August 2022]

Ken Jones deals with much of the length towards Marsh Farm Junction by telling us that, “Shortly after leaving Harton Road there [was] a long straight stretch across Henley Common, this was once part of the common field system attached to the small hamlet of Henley. Across the common and into a tree-lined deep cutting; as the train weaves in and out of the trees and cuttings between Harton Road and Marsh Farm Junction brief glimpses can be seen of a tower rising well above the trees to the left of the line; this is the well known Shropshire landmark Flounders Folly, a mid-19th century folly. After negotiating its stone staircase tourists would be rewarded with commanding views of the surrounding Shropshire and Border countryside.” [1: p109]

After leaving Harton Road Station trains for Craven Arms ran West towards Marsh Farm Junction across Henley Common. This extract comes from the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901. [16]
A very similar area as it appears on the railmaponline.com satellite imagery. [3]
Just a short distance West along the line from Harton Road Station and looking West on 12th April 2016, © Richard Webb and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-SA 2.0). [7]
Looking back towards Harton Road Station from a couple of hundred metres East along the route of the old railway where a public footpath crosses the line of the Wenlock Branch. The chimney of the station building can just be seen beyond the barn in the distance. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
Some distance further West along the line of the old railway and looking West. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
Looking West from the point a second footpath crosses the old railway. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
At the location of the tree in the centre of the image above a permanent fence crosses the line. This is the view West from that fence line. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]

From this point on, the line crosses private land and for some distance the formation has been ploughed into the fields. After some distance, to the South side of the line there is a large Solar Farm. The access track to the solar farm runs West from the farm towards the A49.

Continuing West the line crossed a farm access track and stream in close proximity. An enlarged extract from this 25″ Ordnance Survey is shown below. [17]
A similar length of the line as shown on railmaponline.com satellite imagery. Note the solar farm at the bottom left of this image. East of the solar farm the route of the old railway runs over private land. West of the solar farm its access track follows the route of the old railway. [3]
The old line crossing a stream and an access track! This enlarged extract shows an area about the third point in from the right side of the Ordnance Survey above. [17]
The same location as shown on the pre-contract drawings, © Shropshire Archives Ref. No. 6008/26 copyright reserved, used by kind permission. [5][My photograph of the plan, 5th August 2022]
The remaining length of the line to Marsh Farm Junction. 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901. [18]
A similar area to that shown on the 25″ OS map extract above, as it appears on the railmaponline.com satellite imagery. [3]
The access track to the solar farm follows the old railway line seen from close to its western end. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
Looking West towards the bridge carrying Henley Lane over the Wenlock Branch. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
The route of the old line continues to be marked by the lines of trees, nearing March Farm Junction. [Google Maps, August 2024]
The view East from Henley Lane Bridge, back along the old line towards Harton Road Station. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
Looking West from Henley Lane Bridge along the old line to Marsh Farm Junction. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
Looking East towards Henley Lane Bridge. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
Henley Lane Bridge as shown on the pre-contract drawings, © Shropshire Archives Ref. No. 6008/26 copyright reserved, used by kind permission. [5][My photograph of the plan, 5th August 2022]
The next length of the line which crossed the main Shrewsbury to Hereford road as shown on the pre-contract drawings, © Shropshire Archives Ref. No. 6008/26 copyright reserved, used by kind permission. [5][My photograph of the plan, 5th August 2022]
Looking West towards the A49 along the line. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
The approach to the Shrewsbury to Hereford main line at what was Marsh Farm Junction. The Wenlock Branch is again marked by the line of trees which enters top right. The line brushed the Shrewsbury to Hereford road as it approached Marsh Farm Junction. [Google Maps, August 2024]
The view South along the A49 close to Marsh Farm at the point where the Wenlock Branch bridged the road. An abutment remains on the East side of the road. The Shrewsbury to Hereford main line is just off to the right, © Jeremy Bolwell and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-SA 2.0) [23]
The view North along the A49 showing the same abutment. [Google Streetview, June 2024]
The length of the line between the Shrewsbury to Hereford road an the junction with the Shrewsbury to Hereford main line, as shown on the pre-contract drawings, © Shropshire Archives Ref. No. 6008/26 copyright reserved, used by kind permission. [5][My photograph of the plan, 5th August 2022]
Marsh Farm Junction as shown on the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901. [19]
A modern satellite image showing the main line over the length of the junction and to the South.  [Google Maps, August 2024]
The next length of the main line as shown on the 25″ OD map of 1901. [21]
The next length of the main line as it appears on modern satellite imagery. [Google Maps, August 2024]
The first significant structure South of March Farm Junction. This girder bridge carries the main line over the road between the A49 and Bushmoor. This photo shows the West elevation of the structure with the A49 beyond. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
The view North from Gates Lane Bridge. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
The view South from Gates Lane Bridge. [My photograph, 13th August 2024]
Gates Lane crossing the Shrewsbury to Hereford main line. [Google Streetview, May 2024]
The next length of the main line running past Wistanstow. [22]

 Not long after joining the main line branch trains stopped at Wistanstow Halt, the village being to the West of the Halt.

In 1901, there is no sign of Wistanstow Halt. The Halt opened in 1934 and closed in 1956. [26]
The bridge over the main line on the minor road between the A49 and Wistanstow, seen from the West. The Halt was on the Northside of the bridge on the length of track visible to the left of this image. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
This is the only picture of the halt that I have been able to find. It is unattributed in John Hodge’s second volume about the North & West Route. [27: p66]
Just South of Wistanstow the line crosses the A489 very close to its junction with the A49. [Google Maps, August 2024]
The same location as it appeared on the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901. [28]
The A489 passes under the line from Shrewsbury to Hereford close to Craven Arms. [Google Streetview, May 2024]

Before entering Craven Arms station, on the right was Stretford Bridge Junction, for the Bishop’s Castle Railway. In the early 1930s the Wenlock branch train could be brought to a stand here, whilst a Bishop’s Castle Railway mixed train was allowed to pass, with its former GWR ‘517’ class engine and its chain-braked ex-LNWR four-wheeled coaching stock, an open-planked wagon, a cattle truck and a Bishop’s Castle brake van.

Within a very short distance the line crosses the River Onny, ran on through what was once the junction for the Bishop’s Castle Railway (Stretfordbridge Junction and under and [29]
The same area on Google Maps. Earthworks associated with the Bishop’s Castle Railway are visible at the West side of the line. [Google Maps, August 2024]
The view from the West along the minor road which crosses the railway at the bottom of the extract from Google Maps above. {Google Streetview. May 2024]

After passing Stretford Junction, the line crossed Watling Street, the old roman road at an oblique angle.

The railway crosses Watling Street. The 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901. [30]
The railway crosses Watling Street. [Google Maps, August 2024]
Long Lane Crossing. 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901. [31]
Long Lane Crossing in 2024. [Google Maps, August 2024]
The crossing-keeper’s cottage at Long Lane Crossing just North of Craven Arms Railway Station in 1979, © John Mann Collection, used by kind permission of Nick Catford. [33]
Long Lane Crossing seen from the West [Google Streetview, June 2024]

After passing Stretford Junction, Watling Street and Long Lane Crossing, to the right was the carriage and engine shed, and to the left the goods shed and yard.

Looking North from the footbridge at Craven Arms. The crossover which allows access to the Heart of Wales Line is seen in the centre of the view. The much reduced station yard is on the left and Long Lane Crossing is in the distance before the line can be seen curving to the East, © John Lucas and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence, (CC BY-SA 2.0). [24]

The train pulled in on the down platform at Craven Arms, and after taking water the engine ran round the two coaches, and backed into the bay at the north end of the platform, this also being used by the Bishop’s Castle trains.

Craven Arms and Stokesay Station in 1901 as shown on the 25″ Ordnance Survey. [32]
Craven Arms Railway Station. [Google Maps, August 2024]
The bay and the down platform road are marked on this enlarged extract from the 25″Ordnance Survey. [32]
The view North from the station footbridge at Craven Arms Station in June 1979. Much of the station track work had been removed by 1979. The platform on the left is the down platform with the bay to its left, © John Mann Collection, used by kind permission of Nick Catford. [33]
Craven Arms & Stokesay Station in August 1949: ex-LNWR 1P 2-4-2T No.46727 used for local work sits in the goods yard. View Southwest, towards Hereford, Knighton and the Central Wales Line, © Copyright Ben Brooksbank and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence, (CC BY-SA 2.0). [35]
The bay platform used by Much Wenlock and Bishop’s Castle trains in 1910. A goods train can be seen travelling South on the main line, © John Mann collection, used by kind permission of Nick Catford. [33]
Craven Arms station looking north from the up platform c. 1950s. The bay platform is on the left beyond the footbridge, protected by a short section of ridge-and-furrow canopy at its south end. Note the lengthy running-in board, © John Mann collection, used by kind permission of Nick Catford. [33]

Craven Arms owes its existence to the coming of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway in 1852. It is truly a railway town created out of the hamlet of Newton. The S&H line passed through the Onny Valley, its route taking it past Shropshire’s famous beauty spot Stokesay Castle, and past a coaching inn named after the Lord of Manor the Earl of Craven, prompting the S&H to give the station the name of Craven Arms. The station was opened for traffic on 20th April, 1852. The parish name of Stokesay was added to the station’s name a little later.

The importance of Craven Arms as a railway centre was given added impetus by the opening of the Knighton Railway in 1861. Although only a branch it was in reality to be the embryo of the LNWR’s march upon Swansea. Various small companies were involved in the construction of the line between Craven Arms and Swansea, these later being absorbed into the LNWR or operated jointly by the LNWR and GWR.

On 1st July, 1862 Craven Arms station came under the joint ownership of the LNWR, GWR and West Midland Railway. The station consisted of up and down main line platforms, with booking office, general and ladies waiting room, together with refreshment rooms on the down side. Also on the downside was the station master’s house. The up side consisted of general and ladies’ waiting rooms only. The north and south end bays were on the down side. The North [1: p109] end bay was utilised by the Bishop’s Castle and Wenlock branch trains. [1: p114]

An aerial photograph from the South of Craven Arms and Stokesay Railway Station in 1948. Found on eBay on 12th August 2024. [25]
Craven Arms in the 21st century is much reduced. [34]

This brings us to the end of our journey from Wellington to Craven Arms along the Wenlock Branch.

References

  1. Ken Jones; The Wenlock Branch; The Oakwood Press, Usk, Monmouthshire, 1998.
  2. The photographs of the pre-contract drawings for the line were taken by myself and show extracts from the construction plans held in the Shropshire Archive. There is a standard charge of £10 per visit for taking photographs of their records.
  3. https://railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php, 2nd July 2024
  4. Adrian Knowles; The Wellington, Much Wenlock & Craven Arms Railway; Lightmoor Press, Lydney, Gloucestershire, 2022.
  5. The photographs of the pre-contract drawings for the line were taken by myself and show extracts from the construction plans held in the Shropshire Archive. There is a standard charge of £10 per visit for taking photographs of their records.
  6. https://housesforsaletorent.co.uk/houses/to-rent/shropshire/harton.html, accessed on 17th July 2024.
  7. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5209903, accessed on 17th July 2024.
  8. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/07/07/the-railways-of-telford-the-wellington-to-severn-junction-railway-wsjr-part-1-wellington-to-horsehay
  9. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/07/12/the-railways-of-telford-the-wellington-to-severn-junction-railway-wsjr-part-2-horsehay-to-lightmoor-junction
  10. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/07/18/the-railways-of-telford-the-wellington-to-severn-junction-railway-wsjr-part-3-lightmoor-junction-to-buildwas
  11. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/10/19/the-railways-of-east-shropshire-and-telford-the-much-wenlock-and-severn-junction-railway-buildwas-to-much-wenlock
  12. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2024/01/13/the-wenlock-branch-from-much-wenlock-to-presthope/
  13. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2024/06/27/the-wenlock-branch-from-presthope-to-craven-arms/
  14. https://rogerfarnworth.com/2024/07/25/the-wenlock-branch-from-longville-in-the-dale-to-marsh-farm-junction-and-craven-arms/
  15. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.0&lat=52.49958&lon=-2.76636&layers=257&b=1&o=100, accessed on 25th July 2024.
  16. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.0&lat=52.49768&lon=-2.77032&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 25th July 2024.
  17. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.0&lat=52.49402&lon=-2.79190&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 25th July 2024.
  18. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.0&lat=52.49025&lon=-2.81301&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 26th July 2024.
  19. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.0&lat=52.48445&lon=-2.81728&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  20. https://www.geograph.org.uk/showmap.php?gridref=SO4386, accessed on 12th August 2024.
  21. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.0&lat=52.47950&lon=-2.82157&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  22. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.0&lat=52.47054&lon=-2.82915&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 12th August 2024.
  23. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6466763, accessed of 12th August 2024.
  24. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4787720, accessed on 12th August 2024.
  25. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195647213680?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=xRk1_MAMSum&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=afQhrar7TGK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY, accessed on 12th August 2024.
  26. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.0&lat=52.46474&lon=-2.83404&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  27. John Hodge; The North and West Route, Volume 2 – Shrewsbury and Hereford; Wild Swan Publications, Didcot, 2008.
  28. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.0&lat=52.45831&lon=-2.83692&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  29. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.45628&lon=-2.83934&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  30. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.0&lat=52.45053&lon=-2.84005&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  31. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.44778&lon=-2.83949&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  32. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.44313&lon=-2.83870&layers=168&b=1&o=100, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  33. http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/c/craven_arms, accessed on 14th August 2024.
  34. https://railways-of-britain.fandom.com/wiki/Craven_Arms_railway_station?file=Craven_Arms.jpg, accessed on 15th August 2024.
  35. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2211737, accessed on 29th September 2024.

2 thoughts on “The Wenlock Branch from Harton Road Station to Marsh Farm Junction and Craven Arms”

  1. Derek Coles.'s avatarDerek Coles.

    I worked the Marsh Farm box after the Wenlock junction had closed. We used to put freight trains up the Wenlock Junction. One year the Queen’s train stayed overnight on the way to open the Dams at Rhayader. Before my time. We used to close the box at 6am on the Sunday morning. Open again at 6am Monday morning. We had a loop on the up line towards Shrewsbury. A freight train coming up to the box from Craven Arms with an Express at Leominster had to go in the loop. A 53 minute time difference. Loved all the pictures. Brought back a lot of memories.

    Reply ↓

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