Stretton on Fosse Station

GWR Route: Moreton-in-Marsh to
Shipston-on-Stour

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Situated some 4 miles 12 chains from Moreton-in-Marsh, Stretton-on-Fosse was a small, single-platform station with a small, prefabricated building which, according to Messrs. Jenkins and Carpenter, was 'similar to others erected at Various places throughout the GWR system during the 1880s'. The passenger platform was about 170 feet long with a small cottage adjacent for the railway staff and families. Platform equipment included a single bench seat, two station nameboards (later reduced to one) and a selection of porter's barrows. Stretton-on- Fosse as a station did not first appear in the timetables when the line re-opened in July 1889 but passenger trains did call by request at the adjacent Golden Cross Inn until the station was completed in November 1892.

They continue, 'the station was served by a single, dead-end siding which could accommodate approximately six short-wheel base wagons and which was accessed by a two-lever ground frame locked by a key attached to the wooden train staff. Because the siding trailed in the down direction, it was normally accessed by trains bound for Shipston-on-Stour. However, southbound trains were permitted to stop short of the siding in order that loaded wagons could be detached. The locomotive and passenger vehicle(s) would then draw forward into the platform and, after the guard had operated the points, the wagons were gravitated into the goods yard'.

Ref: gwrsf540 Anon Stretton on Fosse looking towards Morton in the Marsh with the single siding on the left complete with loading gauge

Ref: gwrsf541 Anon Stretton-on-Fosse looking north towards Shipston-on-Stour with the loading gauge minus its profile ironwork

Ref: gwrsf541a Anon Close up showing the station building towards the end of its life as a passenger facility

Ref: gwrsf542 Anon Looking towards Shipston-on-Stour with a covered five-plank wagon standing in the siding awaiting collection by the next Moreton-in-Marsh bound train

Ref: gwrsf542a Anon Close up showing the covered wagon standing in the siding with two platelayers huts standing behind the buffer stops

Ref: gwrsf556 Stretton Local History Group View of the station showing the two station name boards later reduced to one name board and at the end of the single siding the original PW hut

Ref: gwrsf553 D Burge View of the Golden Cross Hotel, the gateway to the goods yard and the weighbridge office

Ref: gwrsf554 Stretton Local History Group View of the weighbridge and office at the entrance of the goods yard with the Golden Cross Hotel adjacent to the station

Ref: gwrsf555 Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Looking towards Shipston-on-Stour in Edwardian days when Charles Cotton was station master

Ref: gwrsf971 Lens of Sutton Looking north towards Shipston-on-Stour with the ground frame and point levers seen at the end of the platform

Ref: gwrsf965 PJ Garland A view of Stretton-on-Fosse Level Crossing showing the overlapping gates and the adjacent station masters house

Ref: gwrsf964 JH Russell A view of the 'Pump' trolley and its companion trolley which was stored in siding at Stretton-on-Fosse in 1947

Ref: gwrsf544 Stretton Local History Group An aerial view of the station after the passenger services had ceased and the goods siding lifted

Ref: gwrsf945 Ordance Survey Location map of Stretton-on-Fosse station