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GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Honeybourne

Milcote Station

Milcote Weston & Welford station was located on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway's single line branch from Honeybourne to Stratford Upon Avon and was opened on the 12th July 1859. In 1915 Milcote was just inside the county boundary which passed through the very southern end of the goods yard. As was the case with other stations on the then single branch line, Milcote was built with just the one platform until 7th May 1908 when the new platforms were opened after the line had been doubled from Long Marston to Stratford on Avon (East & West Junction) in February 1908. The original platform was by nature short being just 196 feet long and had the goods yard and its facilities immediately adjacent to the platform's end. Rather than remodelling the goods yard the cheapest alternative for the GWR was to resite the platforms (each 400 feet long) to the other side of the level crossing. The original ten ton weighbridge was replaced in 1932 by a fifteen ton version which remained in place until June 1964. Its assumed that prior to the signal box being erected in 1891 some form of control must have been provided, either by a gatekeeper or porter signalman, utilising a ground frame. This Class 4 signal box's original frame contained 21 levers of which 2 were spare and had in addition, two wicket levers and a gate wheel. In the course of time, reflecting wear and tear, the frame was renewed in 1903. On 29th June 1973 the signal box was relegated to a crossing frame (it no longer acted as block post dividing the line) and it was to close in late 1976.

Audie Baker in his book 'The Stratford on Avon to Cheltenham Railway' states that by 1903 the number of staff at the station numbered four, rising to five by 1931, all being under the control of the station master at Long Marston. The 1930s saw the total receipts averaging £1500 per annum with tonnage being in the region of 1800 tons per annum. There was initially a coal merchant based at Milcote but towards the end this did not generate much traffic. Latterly the only traffic that was forwarded being sugar beet and then only during the season. Audie also writes that it was 'during World War II that the station received attention from the German Airforce (Luftwaffe). A train was attacked whilst in the station area. Little damage resulted but a bullet found its way into the woodwork of the down platform waiting room side window and the subsequent hole remained until the station closed. The station closed in stages: becoming unstaffed on 1st March 1956; goods yard closed on 1st July 1963; and passenger services withdrawn on 3rd January 1966. The empty Station Master's house became the home of the then Winchcombe signalman who commuted daily.

Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith record in their book 'Stratford Upon Avon to Cheltenham' the records for the movement of goods traffic and passengers over three decades from 1903 to 1933. These records showed the passenger numbers in 1903 were 5077. By 1913 they had grown to 7126 with a further increase to 9399 in 1923 but by 1933 these numbers had fallen back to 5151. Parcel traffic showed a similar pattern. In 1903 the station forwarded 1844 parcels, growing to 4943 in 1913, and further growth in 1923 to 4806 but again a fall in number to 1919 by 1933. The year 1923, which saw the station's busiest time, saw the station with five members of staff being employed. Interestingly, the tonnage of goods forwarded from the station didn't follow this pattern as numbers actually fell from 1903 onwards. Whilst in 1903 the figure was 1333 tons, the following three decades saw much lower figures, being respectively 575, 534 although tonnage did recover to 692 tons in 1933. General goods received commenced at 301 tons in 1903 with increases over the next two decades to 449 tons and 485 tons respectively before falling to 195 tons in 1933. The station, being located in a rural area without much industry, handled very little coal and coke. Tonnage received started from 14 tons in 1903 growing slightly to 16 tons in 1913 before falling back to 7 tons for both 1923 and 1933.

Much of the information on this and other pages of Warwickshire Railways is derived from articles or books listed in our 'bibliography'.

Broadside view of the original 1859 Milcote station and short platform with the signal box and level crossing on the left
Ref: gwrm589
C Maggs
Broadside view of the original 1859 Milcote station and short platform with the signal box and level crossing on the left
Close up of the original 1859 station platform showing the opening beneath the short platform which was once used by a ground frame
Ref: gwrm589a
C Maggs
Close up of the original 1859 station platform showing the opening which was once used by a ground frame
Looking towards Stratford on Avon along the original single platform with the new station in the distance in 1908
Ref: gwrm591
Stations UK
Looking towards Stratford on Avon along the original single platform with the new station in the distance in 1908
Close up showing the up waiting room on the left and opposite the cantilevered signal at the end of the down platform
Ref: gwrm591a
Stations UK
Close up of the up waiting room on the left and opposite the cantilevered signal at the end of the down platform
Looking towards Honeybourne along the up platform with the goods yard in the distance on the left beyond the 1859 station
Ref: gwrm592
Mowat Collection
Looking towards Honeybourne along the up platform with the goods yard in the distance on the left beyond the station

Close up showing Milcote station's goods yard which was built alongside the 1859 station with vans on both of the sidings
Ref: gwrm592a
Mowat Collection
Close up of Milcote station's goods yard, built alongside the 1859 station, with vans on both of the sidings
Close up showing the down platform and the extensive flowerbeds and flora created and maintained by the station staff
Ref: gwrm592b
Mowat Collection
Close up of the down platform and the extensive flowerbeds created and maintained by the station staff
Looking south along the down platform towards Honeybourne and Milcote Signal Box and level crossing with up waiting room on the right
Ref: gwrm485
Lens of Sutton
Looking south along the down platform to Milcote Signal Box and level crossing with up waiting room on the right
View of the original 1859 station and Milcote Signal Box which was erected in 1891 some years prior to the doubling of the route
Ref: gwrm486
Lens of Sutton
The original 1859 station and Milcote Signal Box, erected in 1891, some years prior to the doubling of the route
Close up Milcote Signal Box which was accessed via a gate by the level crossing, steps up the original platform and then wooden steps into the signal box
Ref: gwrm486a
Lens of Sutton
Close up of Milcote Signal Box, accessed via a gate by the level crossing & steps up the original platform

Close up showing the remnants of the abandoned 1859 single platform and the goods yard now lifted following closure
Ref: gwrm486b
Lens of Sutton
Close up of the remnants of the abandoned 1859 single platform and the goods yard now lifted following closure
Looking north towards Stratford on Avon along Milcote station's down platform with the fir tree lined up platform on the left
Ref: gwrm487
Lens of Sutton
Looking north along Milcote station's down platform with the fir tree lined up platform on the left
Close up showing the 1891 signal box and the short flight of steps up to the box from the original station's platform
Ref: gwrm589b
C Maggs
Close up showing the 1891 signal box and the short flight of steps up to the box from the original station's platform
Looking towards Stratford on Avon along the now disused up platform which has had the paved surface removed
Ref: gwrm590
C Maggs
Looking towards Stratford on Avon along the now disused up platform which has had the paved surface removed
Close up showing the now abandoned down platform and Waiting Room at Milcote station
Ref: gwrm590a
C Maggs
Close up showing the now abandoned down platform and Waiting Room at Milcote station

View of the 1908 main station building located on the up platform which housed the booking office and waiting rooms for passengers
Ref: gwrm803
K Flynn
The 1908 main station building located on the up platform housing the booking office and waiting rooms
View of Milcote Signal Box a couple of years after the closure of the station when the route was still being used by freight services
Ref: gwrm804
K Flynn
Milcote Signal Box a couple of years after the station's closure when the route was being used by freight services
Looking south towards Honeybourne showing passengers seated whilst waiting for an up service to Stratford on Avon
Ref: gwrm1554
Lens of Sutton
Looking towards Honeybourne showing passengers seated whilst waiting for an up service to Stratford on Avon
Close up showing Milcote's home starter signal on a bracket signal post with the two road goods yard beyond
Ref: gwrm1554a
Lens of Sutton
Close up showing Milcote's home starter signal on a bracket signal post with the two road goods yard beyond
Close up of the main station building with the booking office on the left and gent's toilets on the right
Ref: gwrm1556a
C Metcalfe
Close up of the main station building with the booking office on the left and gent's toilets on the right

Looking south in 1924 along the up platform towards Honeybourne showing the down platform building in pristine condition
Ref: gwrm2434
Stations UK
Looking south in 1924 along the up platform showing the down platform building in pristine condition
Another view of the original 1859 station building and platform taken after closure of the station with platform edges cut back
Ref: gwrm1555
Lens of Sutton
Another view of the original 1859 station building seen after closure of the station with platform edges cut back
An interior view of Milcote Signal Box with signalman Keith Hopkins standing alongside the level crossing gate wheel
Ref: gwrm3149
K Hopkins
Milcote Signal Box with signalman Keith Hopkins standing alongside the level crossing gate wheel

Locomotives seen at Milcote station

British Railways built GWR 4-6-0 Castle class No 7028 'Cadbury Castle' is seen passing through the station on 3:45pm Snow Hill to Swansea service
Ref: gwrm1556
C Metcalfe
BR built 4-6-0 No 7028 'Cadbury Castle' is seen passing through on 3:45pm Snow Hill to Swansea service
Ex-GWR 2-6-0 43xx Class No 6362 is seen at the head of a down freight service to Honeybourne
Ref: gwrm2435
RS Carpenter
Ex-GWR 2-6-0 43xx Class No 6362 is seen at the head of a down freight service to Honeybourne
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5046 'Earl Cawdor' heads the Down 'Cornishman' past Milcote station's sidings on 31st May 1961
Ref: gwrm3148
G England
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5046 'Earl Cawdor' heads the Down 'Cornishman' past Milcote station's sidings in May 1961
A three car Diesel Multiple Unit set passes through Milcote station on an up service to Cheltenham in February 1966
Ref: gwrm3146
GH Tilt
A three car DMU set passes through Milcote station on an up service to Cheltenham in February 1966
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 County class No 1014 'County of Glamorgan' stands at Milcote with a down local passenger service
Ref: gwrm3147
K Hopkins
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 1014 'County of Glamorgan' stands at Milcote with a down local passenger service

Ordnance Survey map of Milcote station

An 1884 Ordnance Survey map of Milcote station showing just the single line, a passing loop and a long siding
Ref: gwrm3143
National Library of Scotland
An 1884 Ordnance Survey map of Milcote station with just the single line, a passing loop and a long siding
An 1900 Ordnance Survey map of Milcote station showing just the single line, a passing loop and a long siding
Ref: gwrm3144
National Library of Scotland
An 1900 Ordnance Survey map of Milcote station with just the single line, a passing loop and a long siding
View of the ordance survey map showing Milcote station and its two siding goods yard which opened in 1908
Ref: gwrm3145
National Library of Scotland
An 1913 OS map of Milcote station with the line now doubled, the passing loop & long siding remaining in-situ
An 1896 schematic plan showing Milcote station prior to the doubling of the line between Stratford on Avon and Honeybourne
Ref: gwrm3150
A Baker
An 1896 schematic plan showing Milcote station prior to the doubling of the line to Honeybourne
View of the ordance survey map showing Milcote station and its two siding goods yard which opened in 1908
Ref: gwrm3151
A Baker
An 1909 schematic plan showing Milcote station after the doubling of the line to Honeybourne

View of the ordance survey map showing Milcote station and its two siding goods yard which opened in 1908
Ref: milcote-map
Ordance Survey
View of the ordance survey map showing Milcote station and its two siding goods yard which opened in 1908