GWR Route: Birmingham and Henley in Arden Railway
Company
Lapworth to Henley in Arden Branch Line: gwrha2785
Copies of the front pages of various Acts of Parliament
relating to the attempts to build a railway to Henley-in-Arden.
The powers granted by the initial two Acts for the
Henley-in-Arden Railway (see gwrhaxxxx) expired in June 1865 with the railway
still incomplete, but eight years later a new Act for the Henley-in-Arden &
Great Western Railway was granted on 5th August 1873, for the construction of a
railway along the same route. The Act declared the previous railway officially
abandoned and allowed for the purchase of; the land, works, property and
effects of the Henley-in-Arden railway company. The Act required the railway to
be completed within three years and authorised £30,000 of share capital
with further borrowing of £10,000.
Yet again finance was insufficient and the railway remained
incomplete when the powers lapsed in 1876. Eight years later on 23rd June 1884
another Act was granted to revive and extend the powers of the 1873 Act. The
1884 Act also changed the name to the Birmingham & Henley-in-Arden Railway.
Again another three year time frame for completion was specified.
The saga continued with a further Act granted on 7th August
1888 to again revive the powers for a further three years, but this time the
Great Western Railway had become actively involved and had signed an agreement
with the Henley company regarding the future working and maintenance of the
line on 4th August 1888, which was also included in the Great Western Railway
Act granted on 12th August 1889. A further and final Act was granted to the
Birmingham & Henley-in-Arden Railway on 28th July 1891 to extend the time
frame for completion by another two years.
See 'gwrha2786' for the opening
of the branch line.
Robert Ferris
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