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London North Western
Railway:
Midland
Railway:
Stratford
Midland Junction Railway
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Berkswell and Balsall Common Station
Berkswell station originally opened as a gated crossing when
the London & Birmingham Railway was first built and only became a station
after the Board of the L&BR ordered on 9th October 1844 that 'short trains'
(local passenger services) 'shall call to take up and set down passengers at
Docker's Lane, Marston Green and Stechford Gates'. It is thought that these
and possibly other gated crossings may well have been in use from the outset as
unofficial stations. The three stations gained further recognition on 27th
November 1844 when the Board ordered that there be provided platforms and
booking huts. The station changed from Docker's Lane, to
Berkswell on 1 January 1853 and then to Berkswell & Balsall
Common on 1st February 1928 before finally reverting to Berkswell at
a later yet to be determined date.
David Felthouse of the Berkswell & District History
Group wites 'In 1923 Balsall Parish Council complained to LMS that
“Balsall Common was off the map and goods get lost”. It was agreed to
rename the station ‘Berkswell and Balsall Common’; it took until 1st
February 1928 to make the change. At some point, believed to be either at the
end of the 1950s or beginning of the 1960s, the name reverted to
‘Berkswell’. Though it is within living memory we have been unable to
ascertain a precise date. We have found the following references, which are
very contradictory:
- Bradshaw: 3rd March 1957 - 'Berkswell &
Balsall Common'; January 1959 - 'Berkswell'
- Birmingham ABC Guide: 1958, 1959 and 1960
'Berkswell & Balsall Common'
- Toby Cave (Royal Leamington Spa Historian): 1955
Change back to 'Berkswell' taken from engineering records stated in 'Railway
Stations in Great Britain and Chronology' by Michael Quick 4th edition revised
2009. Published by Railway & Canal History Society.
- London to Birmingham Railway” by John
Boynton: Picture taken 13th September 1959 showing 'Berkswell & Balsall
Common'.
The name of the road leading to the station also changed,
from Dockers Lane to Station Road. John Boynton noted in his book 'The
London & Birmingham Railway between Birmingham and Coventry' (Mid
England Books 2004) that a Dockers Close still existed near to the station in
2004. When first built Berkswell station was provided with two platforms which
were staggered diagonally opposite each other with the up platform being on the
Coventry side of the level crossing. The station master's house, which was
initially in all probability the crossing keeper's house, was sited north of
the level crossing next to the down platform. The signal cabin was located on
the down side of the station on the Coventry side of the level crossing. In
addition to the level crossing, the L&BR had provided a narrow and low
underbridge to allow farm traffic to pass from one side of the line to another
without having to use the level crossing. Berkswell commenced operating a goods
service in 1865 with its goods yard sited on the down line adjacent to the
signal cabin which itself was located on the Coventry side of the level
crossing. The goods yard was small being one siding for open wagons which was
accessed via two loop lines. A weighbridge and office appears to have been
provided.
On 2nd March 1884 the Berkswell to Kenilworth branch line
opened. Initially it was limited to goods traffic but later, on 2nd June 1884,
access was extended to passenger services. In the early 19th century
Berkswell's platform configuration changed from being staggered to having both
platforms opposite each other. This resulted in the up platform being rebuilt
using timber framing for the platform with standard LNWR timber buildings being
positioned on the Birmingham side of the level crossing. A steel passenger
footbridge was erected between the two platforms was erected at a later unknown
date. It is thought that the up platform was moved due to the problems
associated with the increasing length of local passenger trains which used
non-corridor carriages. It was becoming increasingly necessary at stations with
short platforms for local trains to draw forward so that passengers at the rear
of the train could alight. On direct Birmingham to Leamington services using
the Berkswell to Kenilworth branch this manoeuvre caused the front of the train
to foul the down Coventry to Birmingham line. Moving the up platform to the
Birmingham side of the level crossing overcame this problem. The Berkswell to
Kenilworth branch closed to passenger services on 18th January 1965 and to
goods services on 17th January 1969. The LNWR Society stated on their website
that the Berkswell to Kenilworth branch was planned by the LNWR as an
alternative route in competition with the GWR between Leamington and
Birmingham. In 1910 six trains used the line on weekdays, two being Rugby to
Birmingham via Leamington services but just one service remained in existence
under the authority of British Railways. A greater use was made by freight (as
it avoided Coventry and the WCML at Rugby) until it closed completely in 1969.
The original route between Leamington and Coventry was used after closure and
cross-country trains still use this single line.
Reg Kimber recalls, 'the siding handled incoming wagons
of oxygen cylinders from British Oxygen for the nearby RAF base at Honiley. I
did most of my national service at Honiley and I sometimes had to help the
stores lads on their weekly trip to the siding. We took empty cylinders down
and brought full ones back. It was hard work but it didn't take long and once
the job was done we would settle down out of sight in the open wagon and
partake in refreshment purchased from the local shop. We would depart for the
camp just in time to arrive outside the airmen's mess where we would be first
in the queue for lunch. The timing was always impeccable'. John Fancote
writes, 'I have worked in the Civil Engineers Department on the railway
since 1972, mostly on bridge works. Looking at the photos of Berkswell Station,
reminds me, that when BR rebuilt the Up platform some years ago, we built a
temporary platform on the site of the original one. I had no idea that it had
been there'.
Select an image below to view the larger version with
accompanying text:
Views of the station as first built with staggered
platforms
Views of the station after the relocation of the up
platform
Miscellaneous
Locomotives and trains seen at Berkswell
Station
Maps relating to Berkswell & Balsall Common
station
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