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GWR Route: Birmingham and Henley in Arden Railway Company

Lapworth to Henley in Arden Branch Line: gwrha2785

Copy of the front page of the 1884 Act of Parliament which revised previously granted powers

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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