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GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Stratford on Avon Station

Stratford on Avon Station (76) Stratford on Avon Station - Locomotives (60) Stratford on Avon Shed (22) John Davies - Stratford on Avon Fireman

Stratford Upon Avon has had three standard gauge stations associated with the GWR or companies under its influence, two termini of branches and one through station, the current station, which itself has been subject to alterations to its layout over the years. Initially two branch lines served the town each with their own terminus. The first station to open was just south of the current station at Sancta Lane being the site of the OWWR´s (Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway) branch terminus which was only operational for a very brief period of time, from 12 July 1859 to 24 July 1861. The second station located on the Birmingham Road, opened on 9th October 1860, was just to the north of the current station and served the Stratford Railway Company's branch line from Hatton to Stratford Upon Avon, a spur off the GWR's Oxford to Birmingham route. The obvious advantage of joining the two branch lines was quickly recognised and the current station was opened on 24 July 1861 with the Birmingham Road station being relegated to goods traffic and the occasional excursion traffic, the latter ceasing in 1869.

The Alcester Road station was built as a two platform station with possibly a bay platform located in a similar position to the current platform 3. The Birmingham Road station remained open as a goods facility until it too succumbed to the competition of road traffic on 6 May 1968. In the early part of the century, probably related to the GWR's decision to open a new main line route to the West of England, the station was rebuilt and upgraded to incorporate a third through platform on the up side of the station although it is known it handled local services from Honeybourne and Hatton. The third platform required the demolition of the up platform's building and the creation of an island platform which shortened platform 2 at the Alcester Road end to provide access to platform 3. Today with the closure of the line to the south of Stratford Upon Avon the physical layout remains the same but history has turned full circle as the town is now effectively served by a terminal station.

The GWR, as with all the railway companies, extensively promoted places to visit by their railway services and Stratford upon Avon and other areas within Warwickshire were no exception. Robert Ferris has transcribed some extracts from contemporary GWR books and these can be read by clicking here. Whilst a number of books have been written on the Great Western Railway's route to the West of England with some information on Stratford on Avon station, the most definitive work is contained in articles written by John Copsey and Chris Turner in two issues of the Great Western Railway Journal, No 52 Autumn 2004 and No 53 Winter 2005. Despite extensive use of their iterations in the captions of the photographs, many near verbatim, these two articles cover a significant amount of detailed information not included on the website. People wishing to learn more about the operations at Stratford on Avon station and shed should therefore seek to obtain copies of the two volumes published by Wild Swan of 1-3 Hagbourne Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 8DP, Telephone 01235 816478.

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

External views of Stratford upon Avon station

Exterior view of Stratford on Avon station with the parcel booking office to the right of the gated entrance and booking office to the right
Ref: gwrsa501
Real Photographs
Exterior view of Stratford on Avon station with the parcel booking office to the right of the gated entrance
An external view of Stratford on Avon station in the early days of its ownership by British Railways with a Morris Van parked outside
Ref: gwrsa498
LGRP
Stratford on Avon station in the early days of its ownership by British Railways with a Morris Van parked outside
Looking towards Alcester Road along the main approach to Stratford on Avon station showing horse-drawn carriages posed outside
Ref: gwrsa632
Windows on Warwickshire
Looking towards Alcester Road along the main approach to the station showing horse-drawn carriages posed outside
View of a portion of the exterior of Stratford on Avon station to the left of the gated entrance to the down platform
Ref: gwrsa626
Windows on Warwickshire
View of a portion of the exterior of Stratford on Avon station to the left of the gated entrance to the down platform
View of the 1910 built section of Stratford on Avon station seen from outside which accommodated the cycle shed
Ref: gwrsa629
Windows on Warwickshire
View of the 1910 built section of Stratford on Avon station seen from outside which accommodated the cycle shed

Outside view of  Stratford on Avon 1864 station building and the entrance to the booking office providing access to the down platform
Ref: gwrsa622
Windows on Warwickshire
External view of the 1864 main building and the door to the booking office accessed from the down platform

Looking towards Birmingham

GWR railway photo
Ref: gwrsa505
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Looking north from Alcester Road bridge towards Birmingham prior to the doubling of the line
Close up of Stratford on Avon's up platform and building whilst to the left can be seen a footpath running from Alcester Road to the platform
Ref: gwrsa505a
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Close up of the up platform and building whilst to the left is a footpath running from Alcester Road to the platform
GWR railway photo
Ref: gwrsa505b
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Close up of the down platform and modified main station building with the new cycle shed seen on the right
GWR railway photo
Ref: gwrsa505c
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Close up of a GWR 0-6-0ST 'Dean Saddle Tank' standing at the down platform on a local service to Honeybourne
Looking northwards along the track to Bearley Junction with the island platform on the left and the down platform on the right circa 1918
Ref: gwrsa506
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Looking to Bearley Junction with the island platform on the left and the down platform on the right circa 1918

View of Stratford on Avon station with a local passenger service standing at Platform Three and a single-coach Auto-train at Platform One
Ref: gwrsa502
Anon
Stratford on Avon station with local passenger services standing at Platform Three and at Platform One
Close up showing the auto-trailer standing at the down platform whilst staff and passengers wait to board the service to Honeybourne
Ref: gwrsa502a
Anon
Close up of the auto-trailer standing at the down platform whilst passengers wait to board for Honeybourne
Ex-Great Western Railway 2-6-0 93xx class mogul No 9314 approaching Stratford-upon-Avon Station
Ref: gwrsa1534
LGRP
GWR 2-4-0T No 3563 is seen at the head of a five-coach Leamington Spa to Stratford on Avon local service
View looking northwards to Wilmecote showing the recently opened island platforms on the left and two trains standing in the station
Ref: gwrsa1493
NRM
Looking towards Wilmecote showing the recently opened island platforms and two trains standing in the station
Close up showing Stratford on Avon station and the two local passenger trains standing in the down platform and the up 'bay' platform
Ref: gwrsa1493a
NRM
Close up showing the two local passenger trains standing in the down platform and the up 'bay' platform

View of Stratford on Avon station from Alcester bridge showing two sets of tracks alongside Platform 3 and an up local passenger service to Birmingham
Ref: gwrsa507
Real Photographs
A pre World War II view of the station looking to Birmingham viewed from Alcester Road bridge on a rainy day
Another view of the Cold Store loop line at Stratford on Avon station with the Ministry of Foods depot seen on the left in 1950
Ref: gwrsa615
RC Riley
The Cold Store loop line at Stratford on Avon station with the Ministry of Foods depot seen on the left in 1950
Looking from the Honeybourne end of platform 1 to the up island platforms with a DMU standing at Platform 3 in BR livery
Ref: gwrsa500
Lens of Sutton
View from the southern end of Platform One showing a DMU in BR livery standing at Platform Three
GWR railway photo
Ref: gwrsa500a
Lens of Sutton
Close up showing the island platform's building which housed substantial passenger facilities

Platform views

View from Platform 2 of Wymans bookstall with the platform ticket barrier seen to its left and the parcel office doorway seen to the right
Ref: gwrsa1514
NRM
Wymans bookstall with the platform ticket barrier seen to its left and the parcel office doorway seen to the right
Looking towards  the parcels enclosure from the island platform with the parcels office on the left and refreshment room on the right
Ref: gwrsa1530
NRM
The parcels area viewed from the island platform with the parcels office on the left and refreshment room on the right
Ex-Great Western Railway 2-6-0 93xx class mogul No 9314 approaching Stratford-upon-Avon Station
Ref: gwrsa1532
NRM
The footbridge steps leading down to the down platform with the horse dock adjacent to the livestock market
Looking towards platform one from platform two showing the gated access to the main station driveway with a large Pagoda hut seen standing opposite
Ref: gwrsa1513
NRM
Looking towards platform one from platform two showing the gated access to the main station driveway
View from the island platform of the waiting room entrance,  station master's office, exit and ticket collector's booth on platform one
Ref: gwrsa1531
NRM
View from the island platform of Platform One's waiting room, station master's office, and ticket collector's booth

View of Stratford on Avon station's down platform storage rooms and cycle rack which were located at the Alcester Road end of the station
Ref: gwrsa1515
NRM
The down platform's storage rooms and cycle rack which were located at the Alcester Road end of the station
GWR railway photo
Ref: gwrsa620
Windows on Warwickshire
The gated entrance to the station's down platform which was located immediately to the left of the Parcels Office
GWR railway photo
Ref: gwrsa621
Windows on Warwickshire
Looking towards the two island platforms, and beyond, the Ministry of Food's Cold Store 1942 built depot
View of the entrance to the Parcels Office from the down platform showing the triangular sign suspended above the doorway
Ref: gwrsa628
Windows on Warwickshire
The entrance to the Parcels Office from the down platform showing the triangular sign suspended above the doorway
View of the entrance to the Refreshment Room provided on Stratford on Avon's island platform as seen from the down platform
Ref: gwrsa630
Windows on Warwickshire
The Refreshment Room provided on Stratford on Avon's island platform as seen from the down platform

Another view of Stratford on Avon's island platform's showing the general waiting room as seen from the down platform
Ref: gwrsa631
Windows on Warwickshire
Another view from the down platform of the station's island platform showing the general waiting room
View of the staircases which ran from either side of to the passenger footbridge down on to the island platforms
Ref: gwrsa627
Windows on Warwickshire
View of the staircases which ran from either side of to the passenger footbridge down on to the island platforms
Another view from the down platform across to the island platforms showing the gentlemen's toilet facilities
Ref: gwrsa624
Windows on Warwickshire
Another view from the down platform across to the island platforms showing the gentlemen's toilet facilities
Another view from the down platform across to the island platforms showing the ladies waiting room on the right
Ref: gwrsa623
Windows on Warwickshire
Another view from the down platform across to the island platforms showing the ladies waiting room on the right
View of the island platform showing the modesty panel fitted across the entrance to the Gentlemen's toilet
Ref: gwrsa625
Windows on Warwickshire
View of the island platform showing the modesty panel fitted across the entrance to the Gentlemen's toilet

Looking south towards Honeybourne

Looking towards Alcester Road bridge from the Birmingham end down platform with Stratford upon Avon's livestock market on the left
Ref: gwrsa494
CL Mowat
Looking towards Alcester Road bridge from the down platform with Stratford upon Avon's livestock market on the left
Looking towards Honeybourne along the down platform whilst on the right is the up platform's building providing the passenger facilities
Ref: gwrsa508
Real Photographs
Looking towards Honeybourne along the down platform whilst on the right is the up platform's passenger facilities
Close up showing the 1910 building which replaced the original 1865 structure and the British Railways corporate signage installed in 1954
Ref: gwrsa508a
Real Photographs
Close up showing the 1910 building, which replaced the original 1865 structure, and BR's corporate signage
Looking south towards Honeybourne from the passenger footbridge showing the water tank and refuge siding on the other side of Alcester Road bridge
Ref: gwrsa1517
J Moss
View showing the water tank and refuge siding located on the other side of Alcester Road bridge

Signal Boxes and Signals

View of the 1891 built Stratford on Avon West Signal Box which was sited to the south of Alcester Road bridge adjacent to the up refuge siding
Ref: gwrsa1518
DH Cowan
Stratford on Avon West Signal Box sited to the south of Alcester Road and adjacent to the up refuge siding
A rear view of Stratford on Avon East Signal Box, formerly situated at Acton West, equipped with a 55 lever 5-bar tappet frame
Ref: gwrsa1497
J Moss
A rear view of Stratford on Avon East Signal Box, equipped with a 55 lever 5-bar tappet frame
Front view of Stratford on Avon East Signal Box which guarded both Stratford on Avon station and the junction to the goods yard and shed
Ref: gwrsa1498
J Moss
Front view of Stratford on Avon East Signal Box which protected the station and the junction to the goods yard
View of the signal gantry controlling the access to Stratford on Avon station, the engine shed and the livestock market's goods siding
Ref: gwrsa1501
Anon
The signal gantry controlling the access to the station, the engine shed and the livestock market's goods siding
The local signalman poses at the window of the then new Stratford on Avon East Signal Box seen in August 1933
Ref: gwrsa3170
AT Locke
The local signalman poses at the window of the then new Stratford on Avon East Signal Box seen in August 1933

The Permanent Way gang are seen replacing track adjacent to Stratford on Avon West Signal Box in 1935
Ref: gwrsa3164
AT Locke
The Permanent Way gang are seen replacing track adjacent to Stratford on Avon West Signal Box in 1935
Looking south from the new Stratford on Avon East Box towards the station with the old East Box in the centre of this photograph
Ref: gwrsa3200
AT Locke
Looking south from the new Stratford on Avon East Box towards the old East Box in the centre of this photograph

Stratford upon Avon's Goods Shed and Yard

Stratford upon Avon's original terminus station opened on 9th October 1860 now being used as the GWR's goods yard and shed
Ref: gwrsa499
Mowat Collection
Stratford upon Avon's original terminus station now being used as the GWR's goods yard and shed
Close up showing metal bodied covered van No 292 on the middle No 2 road of Stratford’s goods yard
Ref: gwrsa499a
Mowat Collection
Close up showing metal bodied covered van No 292 on the middle No 2 road of Stratford’s goods yard
View of the goods shed utilised by Flower's Brewery of Stratford upon Avon for the transhipping of their beers across the country
Ref: gwrsa619
Mowat Collection
The goods shed utilised by Flower's Brewery for the transhipping of their beers across the country
Close up showing the loading into a covered van of the different types of beer shipped by Flowers Brewery, casks of ales and crates of bottled beers
Ref: gwrsa619a
Mowat Collection
Close up showing the loading a covered van of different types of beer shipped by Flowers Brewery
The Beer Shed photographed from the adjacent dock with the public entrance to the goods office via the door on the left
Ref: gwrsa1541
VR Webster/KRM
The Beer Shed seen from the adjacent dock with the public entrance to the goods office via the door on the left

Interior of the Beer Shed in Birmingham Road Goods Yard, photographed on 30th April 1966
Ref: gwrsa3898
RS Carpenter
Interior view of the Beer Shed in Birmingham Road Goods Yard, photographed on 30th April 1966
Looking towards Birmingham Road with the original 1863 station turned goods shed on the right and Flowers Brewery beer shed on the left
Ref: gwrsa1540
Anon
Looking to Birmingham Road with the original 1863 station on the right and the Brewery's beer shed on the left

Aerial views of Stratford upon Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon Station in June 1964 with ex Great Western Railway 0-6-0 2251 class No 2211 departing on the 8:43am to Leamington
Ref: gwrsa1577
TE Williams
Ex Great Western Railway 0-6-0 2251 class No 2211 departing on the 8:43am to Leamington in June 1964
Aerial close up showing Stratford on Avon station from the North with the connection to the shed and cattle market on the left
Ref: gwrsa1577a
TE Williams
Aerial close up showing the station from the North with the connection to the shed and cattle market on the left
Aerial view of Stratford upon Avon's gas works and sidings, Flower & Sons Brewery and  the GWR's goods yard adjacent to the Birmingham Road
Ref: gwrsa1537
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
Aerial view of Stratford upon Avon's gas works and sidings, Flower & Sons Brewery and the GWR's goods yard
Close up showing Stratford upon Avon's gas works with sidings occupied by mainly Private Owner wagons plus the goods sidings
Ref: gwrsa1537a
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
Close up of the gas works with sidings occupied by mainly Private Owner wagons plus the goods sidings
Close up of the buildings and other facilities at Stratford upon Avon's gas works and the coal yard adjacent to the Birmingham Road
Ref: gwrsa1537b
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
Close up of the buildings and other facilities at Stratford upon Avon's gas works and the coal yard

Front view of Stratford on Avon East Signal Box which guarded both Stratford on Avon station and the junction to the goods yard and shed
Ref: gwrsa1538
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
Aerial view of Stratford on Avon goods yard and shed, Flowers & Sons Brewery, and the Gas works and sidings
Close up showing the principle roads to the gas works, goods yard and brewery as well as a GWR 0-6-0 locomotive shunting the sidings
Ref: gwrsa1538a
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
Close up of the roads to the gas works, goods yard and brewery with a GWR 0-6-0 shunts the sidings
Close up showing goods shed, coal stacking area and a long covered shed adjacent to the goods yard's Birmingham Road entrance
Ref: gwrsa1538b
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
Close up showing goods shed, coal stacking area and a long covered shed adjacent to the goods yard's entrance
View of the throat to the sidings at Stratford on Avon station's goods yard, Flower & Sons Brewery and the local gas works
Ref: gwrsa1539
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
The throat of the sidings at the station's goods yard, Flower & Sons Brewery and the local gas works
Close up of Flower & Sons sidings, the barley house and bottling plant with the GWR's water tank at the throat to the yard to the front
Ref: gwrsa1539a
Simmons Aerofilms Ltd
Close up of Flower & Sons sidings, the barley house, the bottling plant, and the GWR's water tank in the yard

Schematic Drawings and Ordnance Survey Maps

xx
Ref: gwrsa3169
RA Cooke
A schematic diagram showing the various stations, signal boxes and junctions which existed in Stratford on Avon
An 1885 schematic plan of Stratford on Avon showing the trainshed which once covered the lines at the station
Ref: gwrsa3171
RA Cooke
An 1885 schematic plan of Stratford on Avon showing the trainshed which once covered the lines at the station
A 1920 schematic plan of Stratford on Avon showing the rebuilt station and the third engine shed built at Strtatford on Avon
Ref: gwrsa3172
RA Cooke
A 1920 schematic plan of Stratford on Avon showing the rebuilt station and the third engine shed built at Strtatford on Avon
An 1885 OS Map of the station showing the original station built with a train shed spanning the tracks and platforms
Ref: gwrsa3041
National Library of Scotland
An 1885 OS Map showing the original station built with a train shed spanning the tracks and platforms
An Ordnance Survey Map of the station showing the new island platform layout, goods yard and relocated engine shed
Ref: gwrsa3043
National Library of Scotland
A 1913 edition of the station showing the new island platform, goods yard and relocated engine shed

Flower & Son Ltd's lorries standing in line with empty cases ready to take their turn in collecting bottled beer for local distribution
Ref: gwrsa3042
National Library of Scotland
A 1939 edition of the station showing little has changed to the layout since the beginning of the 20th century
GWR Land survey plan c1885 of the land acquired by the Stratford Railway to build the Birmingham Road Station
Ref: gwrhj4006
Great Western Railway
GWR Land survey plan c1885 of the land acquired by the Stratford Railway to build the Birmingham Road Station

Miscellaneous

A response from Paddington received during the construction of the new Stratford-upon-Avon Station in October 1907
Ref: gwrsa1586
R Ferris
A response from Paddington received during the construction of the new station in October 1907
Another extract from the ‘Great Western Railway Regulations for Train Signalling on Double and Single Lines’
Ref: misc_equip250
Great Western Railway
Another extract from the ‘GWR Regulations for Train Signalling on Double and Single Lines’

Flower & Sons Brewery

View of Flower & Sons Ltd's loading deck for barralled beer moved by road transport as seen from the main road entrance to the brewery
Ref: gwrsa1535
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Flower & Sons's loading deck for barralled beer moved by road transport seen from the road entrance to the brewery
View of Flower & Son Ltd's brewery shed and boilerhouse and chimney seen from the back of Stratford on Avon station's goods yard
Ref: gwrsa1536
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Flower & Son Ltd's brewery shed, boilerhouse and chimney seen from the back of the station's goods yard
A Flower & Sons Ltd beer bottle label depicting the brewery in a very well kept state with railway wagons standing in the goods yard
Ref: gwrsa1542
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
A Flower & Sons Ltd beer bottle label depicting the brewery and railway wagons standing in the goods yard
Lorries being loaded with bottled beer direct from the bottling plant's loading dock and of the barley house seen in the background
Ref: gwrsa1543
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Lorries being loaded with bottled beer direct from the bottling plant's loading dock with the barley house behind
Flower & Son Ltd's lorries standing in line with empty cases ready to take their turn in collecting bottled beer for local distribution
Ref: gwrsa1544
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Flower & Son Ltd's lorries standing in line with empty cases ready to take their turn in collecting bottled beer

A 1960s aerial view of the goods yard with Flowers & Sons Brewery to the right and the gas works manager's house
Ref: gwrsa1545
B England
A 1960s aerial view of the goods yard with the brewery to the right and the gas works manager's house

Stratford on Avon Station (76) Stratford on Avon Station - Locomotives (60) Stratford on Avon Shed (22) John Davies - Stratford on Avon Fireman