GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hockley Station: gwrhd729

View of Hockley Depot's main office block prior to redevelopment work impacting upon this part of the depot on 2nd May 1939. The full title 'Great Western Railway Goods Depot Hockley' is displayed on the side of the veranda which faced towards the main Wolverhampton to Birmingham line. All the railway companies made prime use of their buildings to advertise their services. Within four months of this photograph being taken the reference to the GWR and Hockley would be removed as part of wartime security measures which included all road signposts being removed. The horse-drawn wagons are fitted with canvas sheeting used to protect the goods whilst in transit to and from the depot. A little over eighteen months after this photograph was taken the office block would be significantly damaged during one of the many air raids on Birmingham during the Second World War.

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