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GWR Route: Birmingham and Henley in Arden Railway Company

Lapworth to Henley in Arden Branch Line: gwrha3909

Copies of the front pages of the initial Acts of Parliament relating to the Henley-in-Arden Railway

Copies of the front pages of the initial Acts of Parliament relating to the Henley-in-Arden Railway.

The first Act was granted on 28th June 1861 for the construction of the railway from a junction at Rowington on the Birmingham & Oxford Junction Railway. The route was fixed, but the railway could be Board gauge, Narrow gauge or both. It was required to be completed within three years and the Act authorised the raising of £18,000 of share capital. Once that had been fully subscribed further borrowing not exceeding £6,000 could be made. Various clauses gave protection to the Stratford Canal (which had to be bridged and at the time was owned by the West Midlands Railway), details of how arrangements and agreements were to be made with the Great Western Railway (with regard to using, working, maintaining and repairing the railway) and the future tolls to be charged for Goods and Parcels, plus rates to be charged for Passengers.

Although work on the railway had commenced, the promoters had been over optimistic and it was severely under capitalised. A second Act granted on 30th June 1864 indicated as much. This allowed an extension of one year for the railway's construction and also authorised the raising of a further £12,000 of share capital, while the Company's allowed borrowing was increased by an additional £4,000. Unfortunately this was still insufficient see 'gwrha2785'.

Robert Ferris

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