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Getting Back on Track to Restore Our Rail Heritage

Posted on: Monday, 13 February 2006, 09:01 CST

By PETER ELSON

MY PLEAS for better recognition of the value of our industrial heritage at Edge Hill railway station last week struck a chord with several readers.

Edge Hill, built in 1836, is Britain's oldest working railway station and linked by a 460-yard long cutting that drops down to Liverpool Lime Street.

I've since learned that an Edge Hill Railway Trust was set up in 1978, but presumably went the way of all good things. Also brought to my attention is the authoritative Britain's Historic Railway Buildings, by Gordon Biddle (Oxford University Press), who records that, in 1979, the station was "restored very closely to original appearance" and in 1978 that "Edge Hill Railway Trust opened a visitor centre and the Edge Hill Rail Trail but this was unfortunately short-lived."

Mr Biddle adds: "Although vandalism is a problem, Liverpool should make much more of Edge Hill and the very important archaeological site in the cutting, following Manchester's example at Liverpool Road." (Part of Manchester Museum of Science & Industry.)

Edge Hill station, designed in a grandiose neo-classical style by Thomas Haigh and Joseph Franklin, has plenty of room around it for a decent-sized transport heritage centre.

This would secure the station's future and could house National Museums Liverpool's big object collection.

As for Rainhill's 1854 railway station, I was contacted by Chris Tigwell, vice chairman of Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society, who describes how restoration can be achieved by various bodies coming together.

He writes: "While the Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society was heavily involved in the application of pressure on Network Rail to get Rainhill station's York flags replaced, it was essentially a community effort.

"Not only did we apply pressure, but Rainhill Parish Council, Rainhill Civic Society and St Helens Council also weighed in with their strongly-felt beliefs.

"A letter from St Helens Council acting conservation officer to Network Rail not only summed up the feelings of the community but was a manifestation of authoritarian pressure being applied, the like of which is rarely seen in such a worthwhile cause."

Although English Heritage Listed status exists for Stephenson's famous skew bridge, it does not (inexplicably) apply to the station itself, but hopefully that will soon be corrected. Revitalising the station buildings would enhance the area.

Mr Tigwell adds: "St Helens is currently undertaking a review of the conservation area which includes the station, a study which highlights the present deplorable condition of much of the building."

It's good to see people power in action, which might apply to the pre-public inquiry about the right of access to Bootle Promenade. Anyone can attend the meeting tomorrow at 10am, at the MDHC's Maritime Centre, Seaforth Docks, Port of Liverpool.

This is an odd venue, as it is Mersey Docks & Harbour Co which wants a Revision Order to close Bootle Promenade to public access prior to opening its new Seaforth river terminal. Normally, such inquiries are held at Bootle Town Hall.

Opposing MDHC are Merseyside Civic Society and the Millennium Walks Committee citing the 1848 Parliament Act giving public continuous riverside access for recreation purposes for three miles from Seaforth to Liverpool's Herculaneum Dock via Pier Head.

On August 4, 1984, 40,000 people watched the Tall Ships' Grand Parade of Sail from Bootle Promenade' nobody saw the next Tall Ships' Parade from there on August 16, 1992, as MDHC closed Bootle P romenade.

Source: Daily Post; Liverpool

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