Cressage was a station on the original Severn Valley line, 32½ miles from Hartlebury and 8¼ miles from Shrewsbury. The village it served, which derived its name from "Christsache" (from the Saxon "ache" for oak), had a population of approximately 350 in 1861.[1][2]
| Towards Hartlebury and Kidderminster | Towards Shrewsbury |
|---|---|
| Buildwas (4 miles) | Berrington (4 miles) via Cound Halt (from 1934) |
Contents
Opening
When the line opened on 1 February 1862, Cressage had a single platform and a siding. As at neighbouring Berrington, the station building and platform were located on the east of the line, the side furthest from the centre of population.[1] On 14 June 1893 the GWR authorised the construction of a second platform with a passing loop and signal box. The signal box was equipped with a 23-lever frame and a gate wheel to operate the four level crossing gates, while a two-lever ground frame, locked from the signal box, worked the loop points at the north end of the station. The second platform, which became the Down platform, had a small ‘waiting shed’. The Up platform was also extended, the total cost of these works being £671. They were brought into use on 14 July 1894 after being approved by the Board of Trade inspector Major Yorke.[3]
The station master’s house was provided with an extra bedroom in 1901.[1][3] In the 1920s and 1930s the station had a staff of three.[4]
Traffic statistics
| Passenger Traffic | Freight Traffic | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Tickets issued | Parcels despatched | Revenue (£) | Tons received & despatched | Revenue (£) | Total revenue (£) |
| 1903 | 13,514 | 2,692 | 979 | 5,768 | 1,329 | 2,308 |
| 1913 | 14,353 | 4,109 | 1,064 | 5,305 | 1,449 | 2,513 |
| 1923 | 12,558 | 11,119 | 1,871 | 4,020 | 1,852 | 3,723 |
| 1933 | 5,852 | 3,985 | 736 | 3,225 | 1,081 | 1,817 |
| 1938 | 5,161 | 2,024 | 447 | 2,399 | 1,023 | 1,470 |
Closure
The station closed on 9 September 1963, when passenger services between Bewdley and Shrewsbury were withdrawn by BR. Through freight services continued until 30 November of that year, after which the signal box was taken out of use on 2 December 1963. Despite the end of all services, the line between Shrewsbury and Buildwas, including Cressage, was maintained in working order for the move of boilers and other large equipment to Ironbridge Power Station which took place on 22 April 1966. The line between Berrington and Buildwas was then completely closed and the track lifted.[6]
The former station master’s house is now a private residence.
Historic maps of Cressage station
- 1883 OS map showing the original single platform
- 1902 OS map showing the second platform and passing loop
1883
1902
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Vanns (1998) p. 28.
- ↑ Mitchell & Smith (2007) fig. XIX.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Marshall (1989) p. 111.
- ↑ Mitchell & Smith (2007) fig. 102.
- ↑ Nabarro (1971) p. 56.
- ↑ Magner (1997) p. 35.
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