GWR Route: Stratford on Avon to Honeybourne

Chambers Crossing Halte

Like the two other halts built on the Stratford on Avon to Honeybourne line (Evesham Road Crossing Halte and Broad Marston Halte*), Chambers Crossing Halte* was opened on 17th October 1904 for services provided by Steam Railmotors. The reason why the halt was only limited to Steam Railmotors was because the platforms were only constructed to just above rail height. Again, as was the case with the other two Halts, it closed on 14th July 1916 as a result of wartime economy measures. The halt was located at an existing crossing (there had been a crossing keepers house here since circa 1899) where the lane from Clifford Chambers crossed the railway to Weston on Avon. When first opened, the line was just a single branch line requiring only one platform which was situated to the south of the crossing and on the eastern side of the line. The gates were worked by a ground frame and protected by signals, the ground frame being located on the west side of the line and to the north of the crossing. When the line was doubled, opening for traffic on 9th February 1908, the frame was moved to the opposite side of the line next to the keepers cottage. The doubling of the line resulted in a second platform being built on the down side at a cost of £75. The platform was provided with lamps and nameboards but not shelters for passengers.

* As we have photographic evidence that Evesham Road Crossing Halte was spelt with an 'e' we believe it is reasonable to conclude that both Chambers Crossing and Broad Marston were similarly named. The use of the name 'Halte' by the GWR instead of Halt is thought to be because the GWR sought to use a description which would convey the perception that it was not manned. Brian Bailey writes, 'One man's interpretation of the situation is given in A Register of Halts and Platforms 1903 - 1979 by CR Clinker (Avon Anglian Production 1979), where Clinker writes 'The use of the French word [halte] seems to have been decided on because there was, in fact, no suitable meaning to the English word 'halt' at the time'. He goes on to say that the spelling was changed to 'halt' in April 1905. (It's not clear as to whether this was just in the GWR's timetables or also on station name boards), but he says 'It may well be that the change was made as part of a general dislike of things 'French' which manifested itself in the early years of the present century'. As to why the Halte's platforms were built 12 inches high, Peter Masson writes, '1904 was at the height of the 'Railmotor and Halts' era, when many railways opened halts and provided steam Railmotor services to them. Some, to save money, built ground level platforms at the halts, and equipped the passenger compartments of the railmotors with steps for access’.

Ref: gwrcc3152 A Baker A schematic drawing showing the location of the single line's platform, ground frame and Crossing Keepers house

Ref: gwrcc3153 National Library of Scotland An 1884 Ordnance Survey map showing the single line railway and the gate keepers house at Chambers Crossing

Ref: gwrcc3154 National Library of Scotland A 1900 Ordnance Survey map showing the single line railway and the gate keepers house at Chambers Crossing

Ref: gwrcc3155 National Library of Scotland A 1913 Ordnance Survey map showing the keepers house and the two 1908 platforms at Chambers Crossing Halt

Ref: gwrcc3164 Didcot Railway Centre Steam Railmotor No 93, an example of the type of railway vehicle designed by the GWR to service its new Halts