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The public meetings were in favour of extending the line to Shrewsbury rather than Madeley and on 13 October 1852 the Board resolved to do so. The new route would mean passing close to Apley Hall, which led Whitmore to oppose the revised plan and instead support a rival and ultimately unsuccessful proposal, the [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Unsuccessful proposals|Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth Railway]]. The notice of intended application for an Act to incorporate the Severn Valley Railway Company and authorise the construction of the line was published on 2 November 1852<ref name=Marshall20/>.
==1853==
The SVR Bill was presented in Parliament on 11 February 1853. It initially met with opposition from the 'Shrewsbury companies' which caused some delay and additional expense. The Bill proposed terminating the line at a point in Shrewsbury from which a connection to one of the existing lines could be authorised by subsequent legislation.<ref name=JM25>Marshall (1998), pp. 25-27</ref>
In June, a meeting at Kidderminster chaired by the Mayor strongly supported moving the connection with the OWW from Hartlebury to Kidderminster. However this was opposed by a subsequent meeting at Stourport and the suggestion was not taken up.<ref name=JM25/>
After consideration in Committee, the Bill was passed in the House of Commons in July and presented to the House of Lords on 9 August. It received Royal Assent on 20 August 1853. The Act incorporated the Company and authorised it to raise £600,000 in shares and to borrow up to an additional £200,000. Powers were given to construct a railway from a junction with the OWW 5½ furlongs south of Hartlebury and terminating in Shrewsbury, with a branch from Benthall Edge to Madeley. Opposite Apley Hall, the line was to pass through tunnels approximately 680 yards in length.<ref name=Marshall28>Marshall (1989), p.28</ref> The original estimate for construction of the line was £600,000, being £110,000 for land plus £490,000 for works.<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17612/17612-h/17612-h.htm Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, by J. Randall 1863]</ref>
On 1 September 1853 at the first Board meeting following incorporation, Robert Nicholson’s appointment as Engineer was confirmed at a salary of £1,000 p.a. The following month a deviation at Shrewsbury was proposed, shortening the line to join the Shrewsbury & Hereford Railway south of Shrewsbury. Nicholson prepared a plan and section and a Bill of Parliament was prepared for the 1854 session<ref name=Marshall29>Marshall (1989), p.29</ref>.
==See also==
