Bridgnorth is the current Northern terminus of the SVR[[File:46443 severn valley railway (3).<br>jpg|thumb|300px|right |Bridgnorth is home to station, viewed from the [[SVR Loco Worksfootbridge]]
{| class="wikitable"|+Next stations|-! Up (towards [[Kidderminster]]) !! Down (towards [[Shrewsbury]])|-| [[Hampton Loade]] (4½ miles)<br>via [[Eardington]] || Present day: line terminates.<br>Pre closure: [[Linley]]|- |}==The station==Bridgnorth is the current Northern terminus of the SVR. It has two platforms connected by a [[Bridgnorth Station was opened by the Footbridge|footbridge]], a yard, and a [[Bridgnorth signal box|signal box]]. The original Severn Valley Railway in 1862, as continued northwards towards Ironbridge through [[Bridgnorth Tunnel|a 550 yard long tunnel]] underneath Bridgnorth High Town. From time to time the possibility of re-opening the section of the line north of Bridgnorth is raised on discussion forums and elsewhere. The official stance of the main intermediate station SVR has over time varied between Hartlebury Junction ''"maintaining a watching brief"'' and ''"the railway land north of Bridgnorth has been long since sold, and there is now no possibility of Severn Valley trains reaching Ironbridge and Shrewsburyever again"''. An application by [[The Ironbridge Railway Trust]] in 2021 to the 'Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund' was unsuccessful.
The original Severn Valley Railway Company was absorbed main station building is listed Grade II by the Great Western Railway and then in 1948 by British Railways (Western Region)Historic England for its special architectural or historic interest. <ref>[https://historicengland. Closure between Shrewsbury and Bewdley came in 1963org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1053173 Bridgnorth Station on the Historic England list]</ref>
In 1965 The yard at Bridgnorth is home to the Severn Valley Railway Society was formed by a group of railway enthusiasts who met in The Coopers Arms in Kidderminster[[Bridgnorth Loco Works | Loco Works]]. Initial efforts succeeded in raising 25% of [[Bridgnorth MPD]] (Motive Power Department) is the £25,000 purchase price principal base for the closed five-mile section of the Severn Valley line from Railway's steam locomotives. Bridgnorth is also home to Alveley Colliery. By 1967 two new build projects, BR Class 3 locomotive [[BR 3MT 82045 | 82045]] and a replica of the first rolling stock – an engine and four coaches – had been receivedTrevithick locomotive [[Catch Me Who Can]].
The next three years were spent restoring the line Day to operating condition, day restoration and obtain the legal authority, maintenance is carried out by a Light Railway Order, from group going by the Department name of Environment, gained only after experiencing considerable difficulties. 'The section from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade was opened for public passenger services in May 1970, and the remainder of the purchase price was paid shortly afterwardsWailing Wall Construction Company plc (pretty limited craftsmen)'.
==Facilities==Bridgnorth has two car parks. The entrance to the smaller coach/car park next to the station building is in Hollybush Road and includes disabled parking spaces. The entrance to the larger 'West' car park is at the end of Station TimelineLane off Hollybush Road, 100 yards to the north of the main station entrance. For both an ANPR system operates, with visitors to the [[Bridgnorth Station Shop]] or 'The Railwayman's Arms' pub entering their registration number on a tablet to avoid parking charges.
Bridgnorth is one of Facilities for visitors include the few places in gift shop, Refreshment Rooms and 'The Railwayman’s Arms' pub. High Town, with its Castle Gardens and Cliff Railway, can be accessed from the country to have SVR via a railway tunnel immediately below footbridge outside the medieval heart of entrance to the town. The tunnel, 550 yards long, runs below High TownStation building.
A lineside public viewing area is situated at the foot of [[#Pan_Pudding_Hill | Pan Pudding Hill]], on the opposite side of the line from Platform 1. This can normally be accessed by taking the steps down from the car park near the Railwayman's Arms pub (the '[[Donkey Gallops]]') and going through the [[Engine Shed Underpass]]. A flight of steps on the right then leads up to the viewing area. When access is allowed to the Bridgnorth Station Building Works (normally only during Gala events), access to the viewing area is made possible direct from the south end of stone in a restrained Jacobean architectural stylePlatform 2.
20 August 1853==Bridgnorth Development Project==[[File: Bridgnorth New Building 20181229.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The first Severn Valley Railway Act received new building in December 2018]] [[File:Bridgnorth_Artists_Impression_1_20161126.jpg|thumb|300px|right |Artist's impression of the new station building beyond the footbridge, with the existing building in the foreground.]][[File:Bridgnorth_Artists_Impression_2_20161126.jpg|thumb|300px|right |Artist's impression of the new station building looking north.]][[File:Bridgnorth_station_elevation_thumprint_June_2021.jpeg|thumb|300px|right |Elevations for Listed building alterations in June 2021 in association with the reconstruction of the former parcels office and change of use to a shop.]][[File:Bridgnorth_station_floorplan_thumbprint_June_2021.jpeg|thumb|300px|right |Floorplan for Listed building alterations in June 2021 in association with the reconstruction of the Royal Assentformer parcels office and change of use to a shop.]]
26 May 1858: Contract for building ===Objectives===The Bridgnorth site is the subject of a development project, the first phase of which saw the long-overdue removal of the Portacabin style Refreshment room (installed in 1979 "as a temporary measure"<ref>SVR News 51</ref>; previous buffet facilities having been in an old [[Carriages formerly resident on the railway completed between SVR#Carriages formerly at the company SVR but later moved elsewhere | BR Mk 1 Tourist Second Open]]), and its replacement with a circa-1900 Great Western style single-storey building which is located to the contracting engineers. Work began on 14 Augustsouth of the existing Jacobean style station building.
Autumn 1861: Line complete and ready ===The 'Inchcape' site===On 17 June 2014 David Postle attended an SVR(H) Board meeting to propose the acquisition of the adjacent 'Inchcape' site at ‘no cost’ to receive trafficthe railway, leasing the site at a cost of £65, although opening was delayed 000 per annum for another six months three years with an option to obtain purchase at a permanently substantial formation for price of £1,200,000. Together with colleagues he offered that the first three years' costs would be underwritten so that there would be no financial impact on the railway. The Board considered that the permanent wayprice was over-stated as advisors had indicated a market value of approximately £750,000.<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2422 General Manager's Statement 23 June 2014]</ref>
31 January 1862: First official train===Evolution of plans===Other phases should also see the refurbishment of the existing station building including the booking hall, shop and Railwayman's Arms, and the installation of 22 carriagesa [[Bridgnorth Turntable|turntable]]. Subject to funding, left Worcester Shrub Hill at 11a further phase will see construction of a new volunteer accommodation building.30am, reaching Shrewsbury at 2pmA summary of the evolution of plans is shown below.
1 July 1872: Great Western Railway Act – Severn Valley Railway {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"! Project !! 2012 share offer !! 2016 share offer !! September 2018<ref>NBI September 2018</ref> !! SVR News 204 Winter 2018 !! Branch becomes Lines October 2020<ref name=bloct20/> || Notes|-|New catering and toilets||Included||Phase I, reduced height and size||Phase I||Phase I|| ||Opened January 2019. Non-uniformed staff catering from 2018 included in the Graham Hill building (next to the Boilershop)|-|Refurbished station|| Included ||Phase I||Phase III||Phase IV||Phase I || In November 2016 work was continuing on detailed plans for the refurbishment of the existing station, with the contract for the remaining works of the first phase to be signed in January 2017.<ref>SVR Live</ref> In September 2018 plans and costs were incomplete and "will inevitably take a period of time to reconcile". Works were not to begin before Winter 2019/20 to develop the plans, apply for funding and a period of calm.<ref>NBI September 2018</ref> In October 2020 it required detailed plans to be drawn up before going for confirmed costings.<ref name="bloct20"/> In June 2021 the SVR applied for Listed building alterations (see 'Milestones' below) |-|New car park in fields|| Included ||Phase II||Phase II||Phase II|| || Opened December 2018|-|Turntable, renewal of track work in Bridgnorth yard along with the provision of a new loco pit|| Included ||Phase II||Phase IIb (TBC)|| Phase III|| Phase II || As of October 2020, there will be a need to raise further finance, once Phase I is completed.<ref name=bloct20/>|-|Volunteer accommodation|| Included, in plans for Hollybush Road sidings ||Phase III*||Phase IV||Not included|| || *Funds for Phase III were not within the 2016 share offer of £2.5m.<br>Intended as part of God’s Wonderful Railwayworkshop and stores to rear of MPD, a storage block is now not urgently required. The SVR will reconsider how best to provide volunteer accommodation, this was then unlikely to commence until 2021 because of the current commitments on civils and building projects.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/epmay19 Express Points May 2019]</ref> |-|Independent mobility across the site|| Included, by means of additional lifts at the north end of the station ||Not included||Not included||Not included|| |||-|Public viewing area for MPD|| Included ||Not included||Not included||Not included|| |||-|New visitor centre|| Included ||Not included||Not included||Not included|| |||-|}
1887: Original down platform extendedIn October 2020 the SVR reverted to the phasing in the 2016 prospectus, with conservation of the Bridgnorth station building prioritised as a passenger shelter erected, and a cast-iron and wrought-iron lattice footbridge built to connect it to phase I project for the up platformremaining share monies.<ref name="bloct20">[https://www.svrlive.com/bloct20 Branch Lines, October 2020]</ref>
1887===Milestones===Major milestones in the project have been as follows: Town Corporation pays *October 2009: Plans for a refurbishment of the Bridgnorth station site began with the announcement of the Project Development Teams.<ref>SVR News 167, General Manager's Notes</ref>*October 2012: The SVR launched a [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC#Share_offers|share offer]] to raise funds for various objectives, including developing the Bridgnorth Station site. Plans and illustrations of the proposed development were put on public display at Bridgnorth, attended by the steering group and architectural team to provide answers to questions and receive comments. Written comments submitted were published, over 100 in total, with "Overall, the feedback has been very positive with over 70% of people attending the exhibition being supportive, albeit with comments both practical and aesthetic as to how the proposals could be improved" (SVR General Manager).<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2422&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=225 SVRA forum thread] (Retrieved 12 June 2017)</ref>*March 2013: Following criticism of the initial plans, which some considered out of character with the existing station, the SVR(H) Board resolved on 19 March to establish a Conservation and Heritage Committee under the Chairmanship of David Postle.<ref>Announcement by Nick Ralls (General Manager), reported on [https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2422&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=615 SVR-OnLine forum]</ref>*September 2015: New plans and illustrations of the proposed development were put on public display in the booking office at Bridgnorth.*January 2016: The planning application was submitted to Shropshire Council on 13 January.<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2422&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=720 SVR Forum]</ref>*August 2016: The planning application was approved by the Council.<ref>[http://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=742 SVR Website news item]</ref> *November 2016: :The SVR launched a further [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC#Share_offers|share offer]] seeking to raise £2.5m towards the project. The share offer document confirmed that £1m from the 2012 share offer been spent or committed to the project, and that the additional £2.5m was required to meet the anticipated costs of completing Phase One (station buildings) and Phase Two (car parking and turntable). A third phase (new accommodation building) was not part of the share offer.<ref>2016 Share Offer Document pp. 16-19.</ref> :Contractors arrived on site to begin work on the first phase, some preliminary work having already been carried out by SVR staff and volunteers. Completion was initially expected to be in mid-2017.*December 2016: Installation of all 63 piles completed.*April 2017: Construction of the base for the new station building, originally targetted for January, was completed.*May 2017: Bricklaying began at a ceremony on 3 May. A revised target date of October 2017 was imtimated for the new approach road building.*October 2017: It was announced the new facility would not provide for staff meals "across the whole service" as beforehand, due to the dimensions of the new buffet. A Working Group was set up to utilise instead the Engineering Services mess room for volunteer catering.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/working-members SVRLive]</ref> *October 2017: Proceeds from the share offer reached the target on the final day: it raised £2,548,595 gross, £2,427,348 net of costs. £807,000 was allocated from the 2012 share monies giving a net total of £3,234,348 for the project. Work continued on the building structure.*March 2018: First phase work, much delayed, continued with the first roof slates being laid by the end of the month. A project team was working on the specification of the West side project, which includes the field car park, access roads and [[Bridgnorth Turntable|turntable]]. It was intended to tender for this phase during the summer of 2018.<ref>SVR NBI March 2018</ref> *April 2018 roofing took place and the scaffolding was largely removed from the exterior of the building *June 2018 In the rear service yard area, the “Bovey Tracey” outbuilding building had the framework erected and covered in breathable felt ready for the external corrugated cladding to be applied. This is based on a goods lock up that used to adorn Bovey Tracey stationon the Moretonhampstead branch in Devon. The SVR version serves as a plant room housing the heating boiler and food preparation area for the volunteer [[Severn Valley Venturer]] catering staff. *July 2018 a completion and hand-over was forecast for the third week in July.<ref>SVR News 201, p. 15</ref>. This was followed by a revised plan to open on 3 September. An announcement in September gave a date of end of 2018, with a formal opening in Spring 2019.<ref>SVR Forum, September 2018</ref>* October 2018 the former ‘overflow’ parking field was closed for contractors to construct a carefully surfaced, illuminated 200-space visitor West car park and access/egress routes. Walsh Construction successfully tendered for this work at a cost of £642,000.<ref>SVR News 205</ref> It opened in December 2018 with further works in the New Year. Barriers and parking charges came into use on 14 April 2019. * December 2018 the contractors' site offices and associated buildings were removed from the station car park following the practical completion of the much delayed, as yet unopened, new station building. The toilets and (unfinished) new car park opened. On 19 December the planning application for the proposed relocation of the turntable was withdrawn.<ref>[https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=PHW267TDHOM00 Shropshire Council 18/05183/FUL | Construction of locomotive turntable reclaimed from Bath Road Bristol and associated enabling works] (Retrieved 31 December 2018)</ref> * January 2019 the new Bridgnorth Refreshment Room opened daily during closed season.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/RailwaymansArms/photos/a.1457434694370776/2055781847869388/?type=3&theater Railwayman's Arms Facebook 26 January 2019]</ref> The official opening was 4 April.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/grandopening 'SVR Shareholder Event 2019', SVRLive, 22 February 2019] (Retrieved 23 February 2019)</ref>*On 12 March 2019 the planning application for the proposed relocation of the turntable was resubmitted. Approval was granted on 30 April 2019.<ref>[https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/ Shropshire Planning] Ref:19/01151/FUL</ref>*In June 2021 the SVR applied for Listed building alterations in association with the conservation, renovation and reordering of Bridgnorth station, including reconstruction of the former parcels office and change of use to a shop.<ref name=blaug21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug21 Branch Lines, August 2021]</ref>*In autumn 2023 work commenced on converting the former ladies' toilet to a new [[Severn Valley Railway Engineering Services|SVR Engineering (ESMP)]] office. This is seemingly incompatible with the previously announced plans to relocate the shop and reinstate the waiting room.
1892SVR(H) Annual Reports give the total capital sums spent on the Bridgnorth project to the end of 2020 as £3,236k comprising:*2015: Two fully interlocked signalboxes opened at £90k*2016: £243k*2017: £551k (all three years from the north 2012 share issue)*2018: £1,693k (principally £1,188k refreshment room/toilet block and south ends of £493k new car park/access roads) *2019: £625k (final payments and retention monies for the stationrefreshment room/toilet block and new car park/access roads) *2020: £17, superceded in 1923 by a single central box 289 on the refreshment room, disabled toilet block, car park and access roads.<ref>SVR(H) Financial Statements for period ending 3 January 2021</ref> *2022: £31,624 on windows, roof and professional fees.<ref>SVRH Report and accounts up platform.to 2 January 2023</ref>
1895: Town Corporation pays for a lattice footbridge to shorten In October 2019 the SVR issued an update suggesting the route from High Town to next phase (the railwayBridgnorth Turntable pit, at restoration of the Turntable, renewal of track work in Bridgnorth yard and the provision of a cost new loco pit) would be delayed until further quotes were obtained and plans developed. The full announcement may be read on SVRLive [https://www.svrlive.com/post/bridgnorth-development-update-oct19 here]. Previous updates on this project including pictures of £1,400the work in progress can be found on the [https://www.svrlive.com/bridgnorth-development SVRLive Bridgnorth Development page].
7 November 1904: In October 2020, the SVR announced that there was £264,000 remaining share monies, which was ring-fenced for the remaining phase I of the project (the Bridgnorth – Wolverhampton omnibus passenger service initially using three Clarkson steambusesstation building conservation and extension of the bar). It required detailed plans to be drawn up before going for confirmed costings. Phase II of the project, soon replaced by petrol-engined Milnes-Daimler buses from 1 April 1905 until 2 June 1923which includes the turntable and renewal of track work in Bridgnorth yard along with the provision of a new loco pit, will follow, but there will be a need to raise further finance, when Wolverhampton Corporation took overonce Phase I is completed.<ref name="bloct20"/>
By November 2021 the start date of work on the station building had been put back from 2022 to 2023, and the turntable delayed until after the yard had been relaid.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blnov21 Branch Lines November 2021]</ref> By August 1922: Knowle Sand Brick Works siding opened, 2022 the building conservation and renovation was 'unlikely to go ahead until 2024 at the earliest' with ground frames at either end of loopa £300, capable of accommodating 35 standard wagons plus engine and brake van000 funding gap having opened by rising costs since the work was first deferred.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug22 Branch Lines August 2022]</ref>
June 1962<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align: left">File:Bridgnorth_Plans_20150930.jpg | Proposed site plan on display, September 2015Bridgnorth_20170430.jpg|The Western Region completed base for the new building, April 2017.Bridgnorth_Roof_20180401.jpg|View of British Railways announces that passenger trains between Shrewsbury and Bewdley would be withdrawnthe roof on 1 April 2018Bridgnorth_20180705. Bridgnorth Town Council objects jpg||Following a concrete pour to proposalsextend the terrace, believing the line could be promoted as a holiday attraction.July 2018</gallery>
27 March 1963: British Transport Commission’s report The Reshaping == Points of British Railways, colloquially known as The Beeching Report.interest ==
August 1963: Official notice of withdrawal of passenger services north of Bewdley, to be effective from 9 September 1963. Freight and parcels continued until the end of the year, after which time there was only coal traffic to and from Alveley Colliery.=== Footbridge outside Bridgnorth Station ===
8 September 1963: The last British Railways passenger train This view from Bridgnorth Station shows the footbridge connecting the station to New Road. It is sometimes referred to run into Bridgnorth from as the southHollybush Road footbridge, double headed by exafter the road which passes beneath it. The War Memorial in Bridgnorth High Town’s Castle Gardens can also be seen in this image.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tanks Nos 9624 and 4665align:left">File: Footbridge_outside_Bridgnorth_Station_20150411.jpg |The new footbridge</gallery>
2 December 1963The original footbridge at this location was built for Bridgnorth Corporation by [[David Owen#Rubery_Owen|Rubery Owen & Co. Ltd.]] in 1895 at a cost of £1400, for which the GWR contributed £95.<ref>[http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/278547 Kelly's Directory of Shropshire, 1913]</ref> It had been delayed due to a landslip that occurred near to one of the buttresses.<ref>[https: All Severn Valley line stations except Bewdley and Stourport closed completely//www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10231068542323539&set=gm.148420681436716&idorvanity=137861129159338 Gwilt, C., and track taken up between Buildwas and Bridgnorth.history Facebook page, 19 May 2023]</ref>
6 July 1965Its condition was allowed to deteriorate following the closure of the railway at Bridgnorth in 1963, and by 1967 owners Bridgnorth Council had announced plans for its demolition. A Public Enquiry into the future of the footbridge was held on 1 April 1968,<ref>SVR News 19</ref> and a [[Bridgnorth Footbridge Trust#Events prior to the establishment of the Bridgnorth Footbridge Trust|campaign to save the bridge]] was launched in 1969. The footbridge was closed and boarded up on 30 September 1970. In [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979#19745| April 1974]] Bridgnorth was demoted to rural borough status, losing its powers to spend money maintaining the footbridge. Later that year it was sold to the SVR for a nominal £1, but was reluctantly deemed beyond repair and demolished in 1976.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 105.</ref> A short section was cosmetically restored by SVR volunteers and placed as a feature on the roundabout at the junction of the A458 and A442 on the outskirts of Bridgnorth. <ref>[https: Meeting at Cooper’s Arms //www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.5279776,-2.4123035,3a,75y,68.21h,85.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sblf9KSdqoLBDX4V_-HByLA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Section of footbridge visible on Google Street View]</ref> The 1895 bridge can also be seen in photographs 8 and 9 in Kidderminsterthe gallery of Sellick photographs below. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Bridgnorth foot bridge.jpg | The original 1895 footbridge</gallery>
25 The new footbridge was built under the auspices of the [[Bridgnorth Footbridge Trust]] and opened on 22 July 1965: Inspection 1994. Ownership of the line between Hampton Loade and Bridgnorth followed by contact with British Railways footbridge later transferred to get demolition work stoppedShropshire County Council.
February 1966In January 2018 the footbridge was closed due to the station end lifting: Price it appeared the bridge was under tension and the bolts at either end had corroded, and so the bridge had come adrift at each end. Shropshire County Council instigated a temporary repair before the start of £25,000 agreed the running season with permanent repairs to follow.<ref>[http://shropshire.gov.uk/news/2018/01/footbridge-severn-valley-railway/ Shropshire County Council 19 January 2018] (Retrieved 20 January 2018)</ref> The bridge was closed for 4 weeks in February 2020 for purchase of linethese repairs to be completed.
=== Platform 1 January 1967: Purchase by Severn Valley Railway Society of track southwards from Bridgnorth to Alveley Colliery from British Railways.===
24 May 1967: Severn Valley Railway Company Limited incorporatedThe south end of platform 1 originally ended by the water tower, to enable application for as can be seen in the picture by David Cooke below and in photographs 8 and 9 in the gallery of Sellick photographs. A 200 ft extension was added by SVR volunteers in 1981 using 30,000 bricks recovered from the ex-GWR goods shed at Cradley, coping stones from the former relief line platform at Acock’s Green, and fencing from Dunstall Park. At the same time contractors re-faced the original platform and raised the level at the south end<Ref Name = SVRNews60” />. There is a Light Railway Ordernoticeable change in the appearance of the platform at the junction of the old and new platforms, which can be seen in this photograph.
In early 2016 volunteers completed a further extension of the platform at the north end.<ref>[https://svrbridgnorth.wordpress.com/tag/platform-1 June 1967: Contracts exchanged on sale of line from -north-extension/ Bridgnorth Station 'platform 1 north extension'] Retrieved 14 February 2017</ref> This enabled 9-coach trains such as those with an additional observation saloon to Alveleybe fully 'on platform'. The work also included replacing the adjacent 'barrow crossing'.<ref>SVR News 194</ref>
3 February <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Bridgnorth_Platform_1969.jpg | Bridgnorth Platform 1 in 1969(David Cooke)File: Alveley to Bewdley section officially closed by British RailwaysBridgnorth_Platform_20150503.jpg | Bridgnorth Platform 1</gallery>
December 1969: Severn Valley Railway Society merges with the Severn Valley Railway Company.=== The Railwayman's Arms ===
5 January 1970: Passenger service withdrawn between BewdleyBridgnorth Station building includes a licensed public bar, Kidderminster and HartleburyThe Railwayman’s Arms. This remained open when the station was closed by BR in September 1963 - the group of potential preservationists who visited Bridgnorth in [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1965-1969#1965 | July 1965]] were challenged by [[Tales from the Severn Valley#George_Thorpe.2C_licensee_of_The_Railwayman.27s_Arms|George Thorpe]] who ran it at the time.
May 1970: Second Light Railway Order grantedThe bar and cellar were extended in 1979, the contract for the work being awarded to the building contractors in February of that year.<ref>SVR News 51</ref>
23 May 1970: Re-opening Day – first public trains between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade. Locos 3205, The pub sign on the platform features paintings by John Austin of [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443 | Ivatt ‘Mickey Mouse’ 46443, 43106 ]] and 48773 used over the weekend. Trains run at weekends to the end of October[[GWR 7802 Bradley Manor]].
10 April to 30 October 1971: Summer timetable operated between In February 2017 it won the CAMRA Bridgnorth and Hampton LoadePub Of The Year Award 2017.
April 1974<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align: Services extended to Highley and, six weeks later…left">File: Railwaymans_Arms_20150503.jpg | The Railwayman’s Arms occupies the south wing of the station.File: Railwaymans_Arms_20150516.jpg | The pub sign looking northFile: Railwaymans_Arms_20150816.jpg | The pub sign looking south</gallery>
May 1974: Services extended to Bewdley; daily running during the summer season extended to five weeks.
31 July 1984: First preservation-era trains between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster.
18 June ===Hanbury Cottage=== Hanbury Cottage forms a distinctive backdrop to Bridgnorth MPD. The cottage, together with a half-acre of land, was bought by the SVR for £165,000 in May 2007after it fell vacant.<ref>SVR News 158, Boardroom Notes</ref>. By 2009 it had been converted into the MPD crew room with DSM and Inspector's offices, plus a small kitchen and a pattern store.<ref>SVR News 168</ref>. The 1884 OS Map below refers to the property as 'Ambrose Cottage'.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Hanbury_Cottage_20150614.jpg|Hanbury Cottage</gallery> ===Lighting===Current lighting installed on the site is 21st century, using period new GWR no 2 lampposts with associated luminaires and half-harps, plus corner brackets to match the original gas fittings. This was undertaken by suitably qualified volunteers with £60,000 raised by Bridgnorth Station Fund, and was mainly complete by 2021.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blmar21 Branch Lines March 2021]</ref>. It replaced reinforced concrete lighting, manufactured in Taunton by BR in the 1950s, evident in the image 1) from the Sellick collection in the below gallery. That lighting had begun to disintegrate and had become unsafe. === Pan Pudding Hill === Pan Pudding Hill, or sometimes Panpudding Hill or Pampudding Hill<ref>[https://www.bridgnorthtowncouncil.gov.uk/venues-bookings/castle-grounds-and-other-open-spaces/ Pampudding Hill on www.bridgnorthtowncouncil.gov.uk]</ref>, is a scheduled ancient monument which overlooks Bridgnorth station.<ref>[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1013493 Pan Pudding Hill on the Historic England Scheduled Monument list]</ref> The man-made hill was built in 1102, on the orders of King Henry I, as a siege earthwork to attack and capture Bridgnorth Castle. The distance from the hill to the castle, nearly 300 yards, is a testament to the power of medieval siege catapults. Pan Pudding Hill was used to attack Bridgnorth Castle on other occasions, and finally in 1646 by Cromwell’s Parliamentarians during the English Civil War. After the last attack Bridgnorth Castle was blown up, leaving only the remains of the keep which can be seen in the castle grounds in High Town.<ref>[http://www.shropshirehistory.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/theme:20061123173140 shropshirehistory.org.uk] Retrieved 26 May 2015</ref> In 2000 the TV series 'Time Team' visited Bridgnorth to investigate the area around St Mary’s Church.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0957382/ Internet Movie Database, Time Team, Series 8, episode 11, first broadcast 11 March 2001] (Retrieved 29 December 2020)</ref> Part of the dig concentrated on Pan Pudding Hill – then in the ownership of The Apley Estate.<ref>[http://apleyestate.co.uk/film-location/ The Apley Estate] Retrieved 5 October 2017</ref> The episode is available on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8o1yhCNpXg YouTube]. In October 2015 the SVR purchased ten acres of land to the west of Bridgnorth Station from The Apley Estate Trustees, which includes Pan Pudding Hill.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/copy-of-bridgnorth-development-1 SVRLive 'Purchase of 10 acres of land to the West of Bridgnorth Station' 5 October 2015] (Retrieved 14 February 2017)</ref> A planning recommendation for the Bridgnorth refreshment rooms was for access to Pan Pudding Hill. Shropshire Wildlife Trust subsequently prepared a recommendation for the whole hill, including a steadily graded path in a zig-zag formation up the south face to the summit, for which the Railway would need the consent of Shropshire County Council. In October 2022 a Severn Trent Water team, as part of that company’s community assistance scheme, helped construct a flight of steps up to the fence alongside the headshunt, providing for future access.<ref>[https: Exceptionally severe weather causes damage //www.svrlive.com/bloct22 Branch Lines October 2022</ref> <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File: Pan_Pudding_Hill_20150503.jpg | Pan Pudding Hill, with the public viewing area below</gallery> ===Locomotive watering facilities=== BR had already demolished the water tank on Pan Pudding Hill and the watering columns on platforms 1 and 2 before the fledgling SVR Society made contact in July 1965 asking them to stop demolition works while negotiations to buy the line took place. The SVR Society acquired replacement ‘rail level’ water columns from nearby Stourbridge MPD, and a replacement water tank from Henley in Arden, the latter arriving in August 1970. These were installed during the following year – until they were commissioned locomotives were watered at Eardington where possible, or otherwise from a simple hosepipe connected to a nearby tap at Bridgnorth. In October 1972, the platform water columns from Henley were obtained with a view to replace those previously obtained from Stourbridge. During winter maintenance shut down in January 2020 [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane RS 1087]] lifted the constituent parts of the Platform 2 water column to deal with an internal leak and to replace a bearing at its base. In 1980 Severn Trent Water re-connected the local water supply to a bore hole which supplied water with a very high level of dissolved salts. The water softening plant was unable to cope with this, resulting in boilers scaling and locomotives 'priming' within 3 days of a washout<ref>SVR News 57</ref>. The following year, to resolve the issue, the SVR laid a water main to Bridgnorth from [[Knowlesands Tunnel | Knowlesands]], the nearest source of softer water<Ref Name = SVRNews60”>SVR News 60</ref>. ===Weighbridge===All locomotives must be weighed before first use on the SVR to ensure they comply with axle weight limits. Individual wheels are also weighed to check for correct weight distribution after replacement of springs. A locomotive is moved slowly over a section of strain gauged track adjacent to platform 1 at forty five places Bridgnorth with the results displayed on a screen in the signal box.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Weighbridge.jpg | Weighbridge adjacent to Platform 1</gallery> ==Exhibitions==*From 16 June 2012 an exhibition was mounted for the Victorian weekend and following station festival in Platform 2 waiting room, with a history of the station.<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1098 SVR Forum]</ref> *On 24 June 2018 a [[Catch Me Who Can]] sculpture was unveiled as a part of the Bridgnorth Art Trail. The sculpture was one of twelve positioned around the town. They were aluminium castings that represent the locomotive in a much simplified form and were used as the ground for competition winning individual artists and groups to decorate. Statue 2: 'Just the Ticket' was positioned outside Bridgnorth station booking office and was designed by Tania Holland of [https://www.taniaholland.co.uk/ Tania Holland Gallery] using archive material provided by the SVR. It was also sponsored by the SVR.<ref>[https://bridgnorth-art-trail.org.uk/statue-2-just-the-ticket/ Bridgnorth Arts Trail] (Retrieved 10 July 2019)</ref>*From 16 to 30 August 2019 [http://www.kathrynoconnorphotography.co.uk/ Kathryn O’Connor], a black and white photographic documentary artist, ran an exhibition in the then-new Bridgnorth Refreshment Room as part of the Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival. It comprised a selection of individual people then working in Bridgnorth, in as many diverse workplaces as possible, and short work history questionnaires they had completed.<ref>SVR website</ref> ===Postmark===[[File:Bradley Manor stamp postmark.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Bridgnorth postmark]]In 2004 a Bridgnorth postmark was used in conjunction with Royal Mail's Classic Locomotives stamp issue, which featured the SVR's [[GWR 7802 Bradley Manor | Bradley Manor]]. ==Bridgnorth history before preservation== [[File:Bridgnorth 1849 poster.jpg | thumb|200px|right | Poster for a goods conveyancing service to Wolverhampton in 1849]][[File:GWR Bridgnorth advert 1956.jpg | thumb|200px|right | Advert for GWR passenger and parcels service to Shifnal station in 1856]][[File:Bridgnorth pre 1887.jpeg | thumb|200px|right | Bridgnorth Station from Pan Pudding Hill before the footbridge was built in 1887]][[File:Bridgnorth Station 1901291 3efa8154.jpg | thumb|200px|right | Bridgnorth under threat of closure in 1962 (Wikimedia Commons)]][[File:Bridgnorth Station plan 1929.jpg | thumb|200px|right | Floor plan of station building in 1929]] *1849 A goods conveyancing service by road to Wolverhampton Railway Station is advertised by a local carrier in partnership with the Grand Junction Railway. *1856 A passenger and parcels service by road to Shifnal Railway Station is advertised by the GWR. *1862 Bridgnorth has a population of 6569<ref>[[Bibliography | Handbook to the Severn Valley Railway, J. Randall, 1863]]</ref> (Population; 12,079 in 2011 census)<ref>[https://www.ons.gov.uk/help/localstatistics "Bridgnorth (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics] (Retrieved 23 November 2015)</ref> *1862: When the original Severn Valley Railway opened, Bridgnorth Station is the principal intermediate station and crossing point between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. The station building is made of stone in a Jacobean architectural style. *1887: The down platform is extended, a passenger shelter is erected, and a [[Bridgnorth Station Footbridge|cast-iron and wrought-iron lattice footbridge]] is built to connect it to the up platform. *1887: The Town Corporation pays for a new approach road to the station. *1892: Two fully interlocked signalboxes open at the north and south ends of the station, replaced in 1923 by a [[Bridgnorth signal box|single central box]] on the up platform. *1895: The Town Corporation pays for a lattice footbridge to shorten the route from High Town to the railway, at a cost of £1,400. *1904: A [[Bridgnorth steam bus service | steam bus service]] to [[Wolverhampton]] commences. *1922: [[Knowlesands Sidings | Knowlesands Brick Works sidings]] open, with [[List_of_signal_boxes#List_of_historical_Signal_Boxes_and_Ground_Frames | ground frames]] at either end of the loop, capable of accommodating 35 standard wagons plus engine and brake van. *1922: [[SVR staff in 1922#Severn Valley Railway (Kidderminster to Bridgnorth)|GWR staff records for 1922]] show the station had a staff of 19. *1923 Traders' siding completed.<ref>GWR Magazine January 1923</ref> *1923 New brick-built [[Bridgnorth signal box| signal box]] opened with manual interlocking and 54 levers. Track circuit installed at the Worcester end of station.<ref>GWR Magazine March 1923</ref> *1927 A loading bank was provided to facilitate ordinary goods business and to accommodate the new sugar beet traffic for The West Midlands Sugar Co (later British Sugar Corporation) factory at the site of [[Foley Park sidings]].<ref>GWR Magazine August 1927</ref> *1928 [[Country Lorry Service and Cartage Service|Country Lorry Service]] introduced.<ref>GWR Magazine June 1928</ref> *1929 The GWR began a long distance coach service from [[Wolverhampton]] to Aberystwyth via Bridgnorth and Ludlow; departing at 11.40am using a 26 seater, 6 cylinder Thorneycroft Victor vehicle.<ref>GWR Magazine September 1929</ref> *1937 The supply and erection of a timber-framed warehouse was carried out by W&A Edgell Limited of Radstock.<ref>GWR Magazine January 1937</ref> A similar building was erected at Stourport.<ref>GWR Magazine August 1937</ref> *1956: [[Railcar 22|GWR Diesel Railcar W10W]] was burnt out in a fire while standing at Platform 1. *1960: The loop capacity, for the purpose of crossing trains, was 59 wagons, plus engine and brake van.<ref>Sectional Appendix to the Working Time Tables and Books of Rules and Regulations, Birmingham Traffic District, October 1960</ref> *1962: Bridgnorth Town Council objects to BR's proposals to withdraw passenger trains between Shrewsbury and Bewdley, believing the line could be promoted as a holiday attraction. Services reduced *1963: Official notice is given of the withdrawal of passenger services north of Bewdley, to be effective from 9 September 1963. Freight and parcels will continue until the end of the year, after which time only coal traffic from the south to and from Alveley Colliery will use the line. The last BR passenger service to run into Bridgnorth from the south is on 8 September 1963, double headed by ex-GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tanks Nos 9624 and 4665. At the end of 1963 Bridgnorth and all the other Severn Valley line stations except Bewdley – Kidderminster onlyand Stourport are closed completely, and the track is taken up between Bridgnorth and Buildwas.<ref>Information from the Bridgnorth Station website</ref> {| class="wikitable"|+ [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Traffic statistics|GWR Traffic statistics]] for Bridgnorth, selected years prior to 1939<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Nabarro (1971)]] p. 55.</ref>|-! !! colspan="3" | Passenger Traffic !! colspan="2" | Freight Traffic !! |-! Year !! Tickets issued !! Parcels despatched !! Revenue (£) !! Tons received & despatched !! Revenue (£) !! Total revenue (£)|-|1903||style="text-align:right"|52,796||style="text-align:right"|40,029||style="text-align:right"|9,318||style="text-align:right"|46,455||style="text-align:right"|15,536||style="text-align:right"|24,854|-|1913||style="text-align:right"|69,062||style="text-align:right"|48,730||style="text-align:right"|9,802||style="text-align:right"|50,213||style="text-align:right"|16,470||style="text-align:right"|26,272|-|1923||style="text-align:right"|40,127||style="text-align:right"|44,603||style="text-align:right"|10,231||style="text-align:right"|49,210||style="text-align:right"|28,320||style="text-align:right"|38,551|-|1933||style="text-align:right"|17,232||style="text-align:right"|38,478||style="text-align:right"|4,755||style="text-align:right"|31,651||style="text-align:right"|15,708||style="text-align:right"|20,463|-|1938||style="text-align:right"|13,500||style="text-align:right"|37,800||style="text-align:right"|3,190||style="text-align:right"|29,141||style="text-align:right"|15,367||style="text-align:right"|18,557|-|} ===Station Masters=== {| class="wikitable |+ Early Station Masters|-!Name!!Born !! From !! To !! Comments|-| William Doughty || 15 February 1817 Broseley, Shropshire || data-sort-value="1/8/1863" | August 1863 || data-sort-value="1/9/1866" | September 1866 || |-| Isaac Norris Hunt || 18 April 1828 Clifton, Gloucestershire || data-sort-value="1/9/1866" | September 1866 || data-sort-value="1/1/1869" | January 1869 || Previously station master at [[Stourport]] |-| Samuel Martin || 13 April 1834 Weymouth, Dorset || data-sort-value="1/1/1869" | January 1869 || data-sort-value="1/4/1872" | April 1872 || |-| James Alexander Masters || 3 July 1840 Witney, Oxfordshire || data-sort-value="1/4/1872" | April 1872 || data-sort-value="6/7/1873" | 6 July 1873 || Deceased|-| William Edward Bradshaw || 29 May 1845 Sulgrave, Northamptonshire || data-sort-value="1/9/1873" | September 1873 || data-sort-value="1/7/1875" | Around July 1875 || |-| Frederick Conran Barratt || 14 September 1833 Crewkerne, Somerset || data-sort-value="1/7/1875" | July 1875 || data-sort-value="1/9/1877" | Around September 1877 || Died November 1877.|-| William Gannimon Bowerman || 10 March 1836 Witney, Oxfordshire || data-sort-value="1/9/1877" | September 1877 || data-sort-value="10/11/1896" | 10 November 1896 || Retired|-|John Samuel <nowiki>Collett</nowiki>|| 3 June 1858 Chadlington, Oxfordshire || data-sort-value="1/12/1896" | December 1896|| data-sort-value="1/5/1905" | May 1905|| Died 30 August 1905. Served 33 years and left widow and three young children<ref>GWR magazine, October 1905</ref>|-|William James Cowan || 27 July 1857 Stonehouse, Devon|| data-sort-value="1/10/1905" | October 1905|| data-sort-value="1/1/1914" | 1914|| Retired in 1921 as Station Master at Newquay (Cornwall). He started in 1874 on the Devon and Cornwall Railway. He spent 9 years as Station Master at Bridgnorth from 1905<ref>GWR magazine, November 1921</ref>|-|George Smith || 14 January 1867 Shipton under Wychwood, Oxon ||data-sort-value="1/1/1917" | By 1917 || data-sort-value="1/1/1929" |1929|| George Smith, recently retired Station Master at Bridgnorth, received a presentation on 26 April 1929. His replacement, Mr Tubey presided.<ref name=GWR29>GWR magazine, June 1929</ref>|-|Mr Tubey || || data-sort-value="1/1/1929" |1929 || || <ref name=GWR29/> |-|D.B. Davis || || data-sort-value="1/1/1931" | 1931 || data-sort-value="1/1/1941" | 1941 || Retirement after 45 years service. Been at Bridgnorth for 10 years following Withington and Chipping Norton<ref>GWR magazine, January 1941</ref>|-|} ==Historic maps of Bridgnorth Station== *GWR plan of Bridgnorth with the original track plan in blue and later amendments in red.*1884 map showing the station with no footbridges.*1903 map showing the footbridges*1927 map showing the bus garage at the south end of the station site and the signal box to the north of the station building. <gallery>File:GWRplanBridgnorth.jpgFile:Bridgnorth1884map.jpg | 1884File:Bridgnorth1903map.jpg | 1903File:Bridgnorth1927map.jpg | 1927</gallery> == Gallery == <gallery>File:Bridgnorth-5538-1957-04-23.jpeg| 1) Ex-GWR Small Prairie 5538 calls at Bridgnorth in April 1957 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:GW-Railcar-Bridgnorth-1962-08-24.jpg| 2) A steam-hauled service and an ex-GWR Diesel Railcar pass at Bridgnorth in August 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-Railcar-1962-09-07.jpg| 3) An ex-GWR Diesel Railcar passes a Northbound train at Bridgnorth in September 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-SB-82xxx-1962-09-07.jpg| 4) The pre-preservation signal box and a Northbound train in September 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-2MT-DMU-1962-10-06.jpg| 5) Ex-LMS Ivatt Tank 41202 passes a BR DMU at Bridgnorth in October 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-80072-1963-01-12.jpeg| 6) [[BR Riddles 4MT 80072|80072]] stands at Bridgnorth in snowy conditions on 12 January 1963 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-80072-2-1963-01-12.jpg| 7) [[BR Riddles 4MT 80072|80072]] departs Bridgnorth. Note the van included in the train ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-3619-1963-01-26.jpg| 8) Ex-GWR Pannier 3619 takes water at Bridgnorth in January 1963 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-Pannier-RR-1963-01-26.jpg| 9) A view of the station and high town from Pan Pudding Hill in January 1963 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-1963-07-31.jpg| 10) An ex-LMS locomotive calls at Bridgnorth on 31 July 1963, shortly before the closure of the line ([[Sellick Collection]])File:Bridgnorth-Last-Train-1963-09-08.jpg| 11) GWR Panniers 9624 and 4665 prepare to depart Bridgnorth with the last BR train on 8 September 1963 ([[Sellick Collection]])File:PGH RailcarBridgnorth.jpg|12) Former GWR Railcar W26W arrives on a down service, whilst the waiting up service takes water. Note the military lookout/radio station on Pan Pudding Hill. (PG Hindley)File:4114 at Bridgnorth. Major appeal launched jpg|13) GWR Small Prairie 4114 ready to fund £2depart towards Shrewsbury on 25 July 1959File:Bridgnorth Bridge Shropshire Star 1967.5M jpg|14) Demolition of the railway bridge in repairs1967</gallery> == See also ==*[[Variant spellings of SVR station names]]*[[List of stations]]*[[Bridgnorth MPD]]*[[Bridgnorth Loco Works]]*[[Bridgnorth Turntable]]*[[GWR Bus Garage (Ex Bridgnorth)]]*[[:Category:Rolling stock at Bridgnorth | List of Rolling stock at Bridgnorth]]*[[Shropshire Historic Environment Record]] ==References==<references /> ==Links== [http://www.bridgnorthstation.co.uk/index.html Bridgnorth Station web site] {{#coordinates:52.530602|-2.420648|[primary|][dim:1000]}}{{StationNavbox}}[[Category:Featured articles]]