Kenilworth Station

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Kenilworth Station saw its first fare paying passenger on 9th December 1844 when the Coventry to Leamington (Milverton) single branch line was opened. The only intermediate station on the route, Kenilworth station, was 'Italianate' in style and had a pitched roof that also covered the platform supported by ornate cantilevered brackets. The structure was designed by the L & B resident engineer, Robert Dockray. The traffic levels were originally thought to be easily handled by one locomotive, an estimate soon apparently wrong. The traffic levels forced the London & Birmingham Railway Company (L&B), later the London North Western Railway Company (LNWR), to provide within a year of opening both a passing loop, sidings and a second platform at Kenilworth. In the summer of 1872 a siding was laid into Whitemoor Brickworks. By 1881 the coal shed is known to have been erected in what was then the coal yard, this being positioned at the Coventry end of the station, whereas the good yard, a much smaller affair was at the Leamington end of the station.

Traffic grew to such an extent, both directly for the area as well as being an alternative through route avoiding the L & B and Trent Valley lines, that the lines were doubled from what became Kenilworth Junction to Rugby via Leamington. In addition, because Leamington had become a fashioable outer suburb to Birmingham a cut off was initiated to avoid Coventry by the development of a double track from just North of Kenilworth to Berkswell station. This increase in traffic warranted the building of a new station which was duly completed in 1883. The rebuilding also embraced remodelling of the station's layout which saw the location of the goods yard and coal yard reversed. The goods yard becoming the coal yard and vice-a-versa. The original 1844 station structure wasn't however completely lost because as recorded by Robin Leach the Kings Arms' Assembly Rooms required a much more suitable entrance and the sandstone facade of the original station was incorporated into the new frontage on Station Road. The station was close to goods traffic on 4 January 1965 and passenger traffic on 18th January 1965.

People interested in learning more about Kenilworth Station could do no better than read Robin Leach's book 'Rails to Kenilworth and Milverton' (1999) and his earlier piece 'Kenilworth's Railway Age' (1985) both published by Odibourne Press.

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Ref: lnwrk160 London Illustrated News View of the original Kenilworth station, with single platform, being opened on Monday 9th December 1844

Ref: lnwrk1466 Helen Scott Collection View of the approach road to Kenilworth's new 1884 Gothic style station and impressive canopy providing protection

Ref: lnwrk1467 Helen Scott Collection Another view of the second station and its architectural features used in the windows, doorways and chimneys

Ref: lnwrk1468 Helen Scott Collection View of the approach to the station from the junction of Priory Road and Waverley Road with Station Road

Ref: lnwrk1469 Helen Scott Collection Another view of the approach to the station, with weigh bridge and office, sen just past the gate on the left

Ref: lnwrk1469a Helen Scott Collection Close up showing the gated entrance to the station with weigh bridge and offices in front of the tall signal box

Ref: lnwrk159 Real Photos Another view of the exterior of the station now stripped of its glazing to the canopy as a wartime precaution

Ref: lnwrk171 Anon A late 1950s view of the exterior of Kenilworth station with the canopy removed exposing the ornate brickwork

Ref: lnwrk2065 Mr Turnball ctsy C Whittaker A 1959 Exterior view of the station's facade after being cut back together with other work maintaining the station

Ref: lnwrk2050 P Kingston Internal view of the booking hall and panelled facade to the booking clerk's offices with two windows provided

Ref: lnwrk2049 K Blackham Internal view of the booking hall looking outwards showing the station's tiled walls and stained glass windows

Ref: lnwrk2064 Mr Turnball ctsy C Whittaker A 1959 interior view of the station's booking office showing the roof and the ornamental roof

Ref: lnwrk2061 P Kingston View along the down platform showing the station master's office, booking hall and waiting room on the left

Ref: lnwrk2059 Anon Looking towards Coventry along the up platform showing the full extent of the 600 foot long platforms

Ref: lnwrk2060 Anon Looking to Warwick from the Coventry end of the down platform showing on the left the new housing estate

Ref: lnwrk1470 W Kimberley / G Whiteman Victorian view of the station from the up platform looking towards Warwick with station staff posed on both platforms

Ref: lnwrk1470a W Kimberley / G Whiteman Close up of the station's new up platform with its ornate Gothic architecture and glazed platform canopy

lnwrk1470b W Kimberley / G Whiteman Close up of the station's distinctively tall signal box which was necessary to control both of the station's yards

Ref: lnwrk169 Anon A later view of the distinctively tall signal box and the main station building which were located on the down platform

Ref: lnwrk172 Real Photos Looking to Coventry along the up platform showing that only the down platform canopy had its glazing removed

Ref: lnwrk150 Anon An unidentified LNWR 2-4-0 Improved Precedent class locomotive at the head of an express enters the station

Ref: lnwrk150c Anon Close up of the elegant and ornate canopy complemented by the Gothic arches to the windows and doors

Ref: lnwrk2047 Helen Scott Collection An unidentified LNWR 2-4-2T tank engine brings a local passenger service to a halt at the up platform

Ref: lnwrk164 G Coltas An unidentified ex-LNWR 4-4-0 Precursor class locomotive passes through the station at the head of an excursion

Ref: lnwrk164a G Coltas Close up of of the general goods yard and shed with an assortment of mineral wagons and oil tankers in the yard

Ref: lnwrk2066 Mr Turnball ctsy C Whittaker A 1959 view of the goods yard with the shed in the centre and the weighbridge office and stables on the right

Ref: lnwrk170 G Coltas An unidentified LNWR 0-6-0 'Coal Engine' stands on the down platform at the head of a local service to Coventry

Ref: lnwrk157 G Coltas Unknown ex-LNWR 0-6-0 'Cauliflower' and unknown LMS 4F 0-6-0 locomotives running light to Coventry in 1937

Ref: lnwrk161 G Coltas Experimental LMS Rail Motor No 3, designed by Armstrong Sidderley, on its way to Nuneaton via Coventry

Ref: lnwrk165 Anon Looking to Coventry and the 'Station Steps' footbridge which replaced the private level crossing

Ref: lnwrk151a G Coltas Close up of an unidentified ex-MR locomotive on an up goods service standing in the goods yard

Ref: lnwrk2046 J Webster A 1959 aerial view of showing the station in the centre, on the left Waverley Road & the closed Whitemoor Brickworks

Ref: lnwrk2046a J Webster Close up showing some thirty coal wagons alone standing in the Coal Yard which lies nearest to the camera

Ref: lnwrk150b Anon Close up showing the 2-4-0 Improved Precedent class locomotive's train and five non-passenger vehicles

Ref: lnwrk150a Anon Close up of the unidentified LNWR 2-4-0 Improved Precedent class locomotive passing through the station

Ref: lnwrk151 G Coltas Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3704 departs from Kenilworth on an up local service to Leamington on 28th August 1936

Ref: lnwrk158 G Coltas LMS 4P 4-4-0 'Compound' No 1157 passes through the station on an up semi-fast express service

Ref: lnwrk152 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 1P 2-4-2T No 6653 in the centre of a four coach push-pull train on a local service to Leamington

Ref: lnwrk152a G Coltas Close up showing the driver in the cab and controlling the train via vacuum operated linkages to the locomotive

Ref: lnwrk152b G Coltas Close up showing the whistle of ex-LNWR 2-4-2T No 6653 in action as it approaches Kenilworth station

Ref: lnwrk166 G Coltas Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3347 runs tender first as it passes through Kenilworth station on an up pick goods service

Ref: lnwrk167 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 3P 4-4-0 Precursor class No 25319 'Bucephalus' with a Leamington to Coventry local passenger service

Ref: lnwrk168 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 0-8-0 'Super D' No 9349 heads a long mineral train out of Kenilworth goods yard en-route for Leamington

Ref: lnwrk154 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 2F 0-6-0 No 8413 at the head of a close coupled four coach local service from Nuneaton to Leamington

Ref: lnwrk153 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 1P 2-4-2T No 6749 runs bunker first on a four-coach service passing Whitemoor Brickworks sidings

Ref: lnwrk155 G Coltas A pair of ex-LNWR 2F 0-6-0 locomotives are seen leaving Kenilworth station at the head a local passenger service

Ref: lnwrk156 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 3P 4-4-0 No 25300 'Hydra' passes Cherry Orchard Brickworks on a four-coach local passenger service

Ref: lnwrk162 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 1P 2-4-2T No 6749 is running bunker first as it passes the Brickworks on a local service to Leamington

Ref: lnwrk163 G Coltas Ex-LNWR 3P 4-4-0 Precursor class No 5300 'Hydra' arrives at Kenilworth on a local service to Leamington

Ref: lnwrk2045 GW Bishop Ex-LNWR 4P 4-6-0 No 5667 'Zamiel' passes Whitemoor Brickworks on a four-coach local service to Leamington

Ref: lnwrk2043 GW Bishop View from Whitemoor Road bridge of an unidentified ex-LNWR 2F 0-6-0 'Cauliflower' locomotive

Ref: lnwrk2044 GW Bishop View from 'station steps' footbridge of another unidentified ex-LNWR 2F 0-6-0 Cauliflower locomotive

Ref: lnwrk156a G Coltas Close up showing railway wagons including a Coventry Colliery Private Owner vehicle in the Brickworks

Ref: lnwrk2040 R Sharratt Looking towards Coventry as 2MT 2-6-0 No 46447 marshals P & W wagons following the closure of the yard

Ref: lnwrk2042 Helen Scott Collection Ex-LNWR 2P 4-6-0 Experiment class No 5534 'Bedfordshire' has just passed Kenilworth station with an up coal train

Ref: lnwrk2041 Helen Scott Collection An unidentified ex-LNWR tank engine has just passed under Leamington Road bridge on a local service to Coventry

Ref: kenilworth-layout R Preston-Hendry General layout of Kenilworth station and yards with the up line at the top proceeding to Leamington

Ref: kenilworh-layout-a R Preston-Hendry Close up showing the walled in general goods yard with the shed to the left and the Coal yard to the right

Ref: lnwrmap110 M Hollick A 1930s LMS Control strip map showing the route between Coventry No 1 signal box and Leamington Avenue