Earlestown Railway Station

[radman]

Just been and had a look at the building and there is no way my original off the wall theory is right. There is only one very small door (the one I remembered) and everything else is in perfect proportions.

So the theories left are:

The building shown on the tithe maps was a temporary structure that was replaced later (at the time of the platforms being built or later).

The building shown on the tithe maps was the current building, but it was dismantled and the foundations extended upwards by the height of the platform.

Just to add a bit more intrigue I have found this information from the "The Railway Record" August 9th 1856.

L. & N.W. Railway half yearly reports and accounts...

lnw accounts.JPG

So they were buying extra land at Earlestown and building extra "accomodation"

It's noticeable that the stations listed don't seem to be in any order, 4th in the list for land and 1st in the list for accommodation. I may be reading too much into it, but I would suspect that they are listed in order of most expenditure.

I wonder what accommodation they were planning to build in 1859?

[mike59]

Andrew, I was referring to this quote from Cole.

"We should hear that the Station had only that year (1837) been opened by the Grand Junction and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Companies (the fine station building was not erected until 1850, by Thomas Stone,) and at the same time the curve line had been constructed from the Warrington line to join the Manchester one".

So back to the building in question, I’m unsure if you are saying that you think this was built in 1831, or that there was a building of some sort there at that time, which I agree with the latter, there probably was some form of waiting/office building as Gooch mentioned to it in his memoirs, but in my opinion, not the building we know as today.

If we are to accept that it was built by Thomas Stone, then in 1831 he would have been 14 years of age. He may well have trained as an apprentice Mason after he left school, but handing such an undertaking to one so young isn’t very realistic, wouldn’t you agree? Btw, his father’s name was James.

Even if Cole was out with his dating for the erection of the building, I doubt if it was by much, and I’m still of the opinion that he is nearer to the mark with his date than others, who’s quotes differ from as early as 1830 through to the early 50’s.

Mike

[soulsurvivor1]

As a youngster I used play all over Newton-le-Willows, but for the life of me I cannot remember the original waiting rooms, on Platform 5 and 6 the Curve as it is known, I can remember the old signal box thought.

[radman]

So when did the waiting room on platform 5 close, Mike ?

Pod

I was informed it was later that same year, although a railway boffin that I know swears it was demolished at a later than this.

Mike

From the Earlestown Guardian, 16th August 1974

THE demolition of platform three at Earlestown railway station has angered local train enthusiasts who claim that planned excursions are in jeopardy with consequent loss of "thousands of pounds" for British Rail.

Demolition started last week and even station staff had assumed that the work was part of general overhaul taking place for the past few weeks.

But chairman of Newton Branch of the Locomotive Club of Great Britain, Mr. Eddie Bellas said: "British Rail have not given me a very clear indication as to their intentions about the future of the platform."

A spokesman for British Rail told me: "The future of the platform has not been decided, it was closed on the instructions of our engineer who believed it to be hazardous for passengers."

Mr. Bellass said the platform had been officially closed to passenger traffic for the past nine years, but that during that time it had served a very useful function for special excursion trains.

He said: "Earlestown’s biggest-ever sleeping and dining train ran from the platform to the Kyle of Lochalsh in 1973 and many such similar trips were being planned by our club for next year.

REVENUE

"With the closing of platform three these Trips are now in jeopardy and as well as being a huge disappointment to us will cost British Rail many thousands of pounds in revenue."

The closure he claimed would also "Prevent Earlestown from participating in the frequent train trips From Southport and St. Helens to London."

Mr. Bellass said the Loco Club had kept the platform "alive" for the nine years it has been officially closed, but he viewed last week’s action by British Rail as a serious setback to moves to restore direct rail links between Earlestown and Shaw Street station in St. Helens.”

Such a restored link was something the "local newspapers had campaigned for and given valuable support for," he said.

Mr. Bellass also claimed that the closure of platform three was also a threat to excursion trains run by the Loco Club to Folkestone via Liverpool and from Crewe to Northern Scotland.

He said: "The closure will affect these but it will also affect British Rail’s own excursion trains."

At last Thursday’s meeting of Newton Trades Council, NUR representative Mr. Harold Woods asked if there could be "concerted action" to have the Earlestown—St Helens Shaw Street rail link re-opened.

CONCERNED

President of the council Mr. Ted Coleman told him, "Moves are going on to have the whole transport position in Newton reviewed, both with British Rail and the LUT.

He did not elaborate, but I understand that the Trades Council is very concerned about the closing of platform three and bus services generally, especially the No, 39 service to St. Helens from Newton.

After the meeting Mr. Woods said that platform three was "essential in case of emergency," but he could not see much difficulty for British Rail in replacing it if necessary.

County Councillor Owen Conheeny commented: "This is just another instance of British Rail management jumping the gun. There is no doubt that people interested in using platform three should have been consulted."

He said his main concern was the re-opening of the Earlestown—St. Helens Shaw Street service and he would continue to press for this.

"It is more important than ever now to have better train services to St. Helens with such a poor bus Service," he added.

[radman]

Andrew, I was referring to this quote from Cole.

"We should hear that the Station had only that year (1837) been opened by the Grand Junction and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Companies (the fine station building was not erected until 1850, by Thomas Stone,) and at the same time the curve line had been constructed from the Warrington line to join the Manchester one".

So back to the building in question, I’m unsure if you are saying that you think this was built in 1831, or that there was a building of some sort there at that time, which I agree with the latter, there probably was some form of waiting/office building as Gooch mentioned to it in his memoirs, but in my opinion, not the building we know as today.

If we are to accept that it was built by Thomas Stone, then in 1831 he would have been 14 years of age. He may well have trained as an apprentice Mason after he left school, but handing such an undertaking to one so young isn’t very realistic, wouldn’t you agree? Btw, his father’s name was James.

Even if Cole was out with his dating for the erection of the building, I doubt if it was by much, and I’m still of the opinion that he is nearer to the mark with his date than others, who’s quotes differ from as early as 1830 through to the early 50’s.

Mike

Not sure if this adds anything to the debate, because as you say there are numerous theories about the date, but I thought i'd post them anyway.

2nd February 1980

MASON CARVED A LEGEND

WHAT a stone mason thought of his boss remains indelibly carved over the entrance to the waiting room of Earlestown station after nearly 150 years.

The Tudor-style room was built in 1831, a year after the Liverpool to Manchester line was opened, and the same year the Warrington-Earlestown line went into commission.

Its stone chimneys are identical to those at Hampton Court, but the carved figure of a man's head over the entrance bears a legend.

A spokesman for the Newton 150 Committee set up to host celebrations marking the Rainhill Trials said, "The story of the head is a peculiar one.

"it is said that a stone mason working on the waiting room hated his boss, and when the job was finished he carved this head.

"Leaves are shown coming out of the mouth of the head, and these are supposed to represent the mason's imprecations on his boss. On the other side of the entrance is a serpent and this is again supposed to represent what the mason really thought of him."

Be it legend, or not, it will add interest for the many visitors expected at Newton for the exhibition, which opens at the waiting room on March 29.

18th August 1989

Listed…for demolition

The historic waiting room at Earlestown Station is facing demolition.

British Rail has applied to St Helens Council’s Planning Sub-Committee for permission to pull down the listed building, after plans to turn it into a wine bar fell through.

The waiting room dates from the earliest years of rail, having been built by the Liverpool and Manchester Railway around 1832 to 1834. It is understood that a side section was added later.

The building, which had fallen into disrepair, was restored in 1980 for the Rocket 150 celebrations, and used as a museum.

It was closed again soon afterwards, until the Locomotive Club of Great Britain—worried about its deteriorating condition—rented it as a clubroom in the name of local rail enthusiast Eddie Bellass for four years.

However, there were constant problems with vandalism, and the club eventually admitted defeat and moved its meeting place to the Victoria pub instead.

Then in September 1987, a train load of VIPS came to visit and there was talk of restoration again. But when nothing happened, the British Rail Property Board gained planning permission to use it as a wine bar.

This week, a disappointed Mr. Bellass said: "It is the only shelter on the station and if it is demolished, passengers for Liverpool will be just left in the open like they are for Warrington and Manchester. The way train services are at the moment it is just smacking the passengers in the face."

Meanwhile, Clr Keith Deakin, who sits on the Planning Sub-Committee, commented: “The waiting room is part of the history of British railways. People sat in it and waited for Stephenson’s Rocket. I will be very, very surprised if that application is successful.

"There were buildings which were not as good as that on Newton Station which the council refused to allow them to demolish. Unfortunately they went up in flames afterwards."

I wonder if the side bit that was added later could refer to the expenses for accommodation at Earlestown that I posted about earlier in the thread?

[mike59]

It does add to the debate Andrew, although I still stick my beliefs that if is was built in 1831/2, it wasn't built by Thomas Stone.

Mike

[mike59]

The chimneys and breasts give an indication that these were added later.

Mike

[radman]

If the 1856 expenditure was indeed for an extension of the existing building, then it would be entirely possible that Mr. Stone could have done the work. He's be about 38 by then, in the prime of his working life. Also would make Cole half right

[Podstar66]

That's a good point Andrew.
Thomas Stone could have been responsible for a later extension, and so be old enough in that regard, and explain him being linked with the building of the station with a date c1850s.

Pod

[mike59]

Which is what I said all along, 1850
Mike