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Claverdon Station

GWR Route: Alcester to Bearley

Claverdon was one of three intermediate stations on the Stratford-on-Avon Railway (the other two being Bearley and Wilmcote). This 9¼ mile single track, mixed gauge railway was opened on 9th October 1860 as a nominally independent branch from the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway at Hatton. It was operated by the Great Western with broad gauge stock until a connection with the Strafford branch of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway allowed narrow gauge (4’8¼”) trains to run through from Worcester via Honeybourne in 1863. Six years later on 1st April 1869 the broad gauge rail was removed.

In 1883 the Stratford-on-Avon Railway Company was absorbed by the Great Western Railway and two years later the track layout was modified to provide a loop line. At the same time a loading bank or wharf was constructed. In 1891 a platform signal box was constructed to interlock the loop line points and signals, but this was closed again after fifteen years and replaced with two ground frames.

By 1938, traffic on the single track section between Bearley and Hatton was sufficiently heavy to justify doubling the track. At the same time a new station was constructed on the opposite side of the road overbridge, while the old station was designated a goods lock-up. The new station official opened on 2nd July 1939. As part of the reconstruction a new goods loop siding was provided on the site of the old wharf and a new signal box constructed.

The goods loop was converted back to a siding in December 1953 and at the same time the signal box was closed and replaced with a ground frame. This siding was subsequently removed in July 1964. In January 1969 the line was singled between Bearley and Hatton, but Claverdon station still remains open today.

Robert Ferris

Claverdon Station Part 1 Claverdon Station Part 2

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Coal being unloaded from a Private Owner wagon into the horse drawn cart on Claverdon's loading bank
Ref: gwrc3 - Postcard
Coal being unloaded from a Private Owner wagon into the horse drawn cart on Claverdon's loading bank
Claverdon station as a train steams under the road bridge at the Bearley end of the station
Ref: gwrc10 - Postcard
Claverdon station as a train steams under the road bridge at the Bearley end of the station
The coal, coke, mineral salt and lime merchant, Messrs E. Thomas operated from the Claverdon loading bank
Ref: gwrc4 - Anon
The coal, coke, mineral salt and lime merchant, Messrs E. Thomas operated from the Claverdon loading bank

General view of Claverdon Station looking towards Hatton in the early 1930s showing little change from earlier views
Ref: gwrc12 - P Hopkins
General view of Claverdon Station looking towards Hatton in the early 1930s showing little change from earlier views
The 1860 station building was a single storey red brick building with a slate roof
Ref: gwrc12a - P Hopkins
The 1860 station building was a single storey red brick building with a slate roof
View of loading bank showing two open wagons with rounded ends, a common feature in early open wagons
Ref: gwrc12b - P Hopkins
View of loading bank showing two open wagons with rounded ends, a common feature in early open wagons

An early picture of Claverdon Station before the platform signal box was built
Ref: gwrc872 - Anon
An early picture of Claverdon Station before the platform signal box was built
Close up of the unloading of manure from a GW open wagon on to a two wheel cart on the wharf
Ref: gwrc872a - Anon
Close up of the unloading of manure from a GW open wagon on to a two wheel cart on the wharf
Claverdon station viewed from the road bridge at the turn of the century
Ref: gwrc547 - WoW
Claverdon station viewed from the road bridge at the turn of the century

View of Claverdon station with the Station master standing under one of the station oil lamps
Ref: gwrc874 - A Doherty
View of Claverdon station with the Station master standing under one of the station oil lamps
Claverdon station looks more like a canal than a railway following the Whitsun Floods in 1932
Ref: gwrc871 - E Thomas
Claverdon station looks more like a canal than a railway following the Whitsun Floods in 1932
Looking to Bearley through the road bridge which shows the other abutment of the west occupation bridge
Ref: gwrc11 - Real Photos
Looking to Bearley through the road bridge which shows the other abutment of the west occupation bridge

The old station now turned into a lock-up with the opening of the new station
Ref: gwrc548 - Anon
The old station now turned into a lock-up with the opening of the new station
Looking towards Bearley, the new station and double track viewed through the road bridge arch
Ref: gwrc549 - Anon
Looking towards Bearley, the new station and double track viewed through the road bridge arch
View of the exterior of the 1930s road level-main station buildings
Ref: gwrc6 - Lens of Sutton
View of the exterior of the 1930s road level-main station buildings

The road-level station buildings on 23rd March 1981
Ref: gwrc5 - RS Carpenter
The road-level station buildings on 23rd March 1981
View of the road-level buildings during the late 1950s
Ref: gwrc7 - Lens of Sutton
View of the road-level buildings during the late 1950s
View looking towards Hatton showing replacement station built the south side of the road bridge after doubling
Ref: gwrc9 - Lens of Sutton
View looking towards Hatton showing replacement station built the south side of the road bridge after doubling

Looking along the replacement station platforms towards Bearley
Ref: gwrc8 - Lens of Sutton
Looking along the replacement station platforms towards Bearley
GWR 4-6-0 5013 'Castle' class No 5042 'Winchester Castle' on a Leamington to Gloucester train
Ref: gwrc550 - Anon
GWR 4-6-0 5013 'Castle' class No 5042 'Winchester Castle' on a Leamington to Gloucester train
GWR Collett 0-6-0 2251 class No 3217 on a two coach train passes under the road bridge after leaving Claverdon station
Ref: gwrc870 - B Hicks
GWR Collett 0-6-0 2251 class No 3217 on a two coach train passes under the road bridge after leaving Claverdon station

The Royal train hauled by ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No 44919 with HM The Queen Mother on board
Ref: gwrc873 -G Batchelor
The Royal train hauled by ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No 44919 with HM The Queen Mother on board
Looking along the single track line towards Bearley from the road bridge.
Ref: gwrc905 - NRM
Looking along the single track line towards Bearley from the road bridge.
Looking back towards the road bridge, beyond which is Claverdon old station
Ref: gwrc906 - NRM
Looking back towards the road bridge, beyond which is Claverdon old station