Claverdon Station

GWR Route: Hatton to Bearley and Alcester Branch

Claverdon was one of three intermediate stations on the Stratford-on-Avon Railway (the other two being Bearley and Wilmcote). This 9¼ mile single track, mixed gauge railway was opened on 9th October 1860 as a nominally independent branch from the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway at Hatton. It was operated by the Great Western with broad gauge stock until a connection with the Stratford branch of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway allowed narrow gauge (4'8¼") trains to run through from Worcester via Honeybourne in 1863. Six years later on 1st April 1869 the broad gauge rail was removed. In 1883 the Stratford-on-Avon Railway Company was absorbed by the Great Western Railway and two years later the track layout was modified to provide a goods yard with a single siding, as can be seen in the '1886 Ordnance Survey Map', which as can be seen on the '1903 Ordnance Survey Map' was later to be converted into a loop line. At the same time a loading bank or wharf was constructed. In 1891 a platform signal box was constructed to interlock the loop line points and signals, but this was closed again after fifteen years and replaced with two ground frames.

The original station was located on the Hatton side of the road bridge and comprised just one platform. The goods facilities were accommodated by the loading platform which was constructed at a height to make the transfer of coal and other goods a simple affair, seen in images 'gwrc872a' and 'gwrc12b'. The two images show the main goods being unloaded is coal although the first image does show there was an inward trade agricultural goods other than equipment. A Weigh Bridge and Office was made available to both fee paying railway clients as well as to the general public. This was located on the exit road from the loading platform. The Railway Clearing House's 1929 Handbook of Railway Stations states Claverdon only provided the general public and businesses goods and passenger service. No crane was provided provided in the goods yard therefore any loading or unloading requiring cranage would necessitate the merchant to make special arrangements. The 1894 edition of The Railway Clearing House Handbook of Railway Stations did not provide information to the same detail e.g. the number of categories listed, but as only goods and passenger services are noted, this is not an issue for us to determine what facilities are available.

By 1938, traffic on the single track section between Bearley and Hatton was sufficiently heavy to justify doubling the track. At the same time a new station was constructed on the opposite side of the road overbridge, while the old station was designated a goods lock-up. The new station official opened on 2nd July 1939. As part of the reconstruction a new goods loop siding was provided on the site of the old wharf and a new signal box constructed. The goods loop was converted back to a siding in December 1953 and at the same time the signal box was closed and replaced with a ground frame. This siding was subsequently removed in July 1964. In January 1969 the line was singled between Bearley and Hatton, but Claverdon station still remains open today albeit as an unstaffed Halt.

Robert Ferris

Robert Ferris has also transcribed another article from the Great Western Magazine focusing upon the widening of the Hatton to Bearley line.

Extract from Great Western Magazine Volume. 51. No 8 August 1939

Doubling of the Line between Hatton and Bearley by R. H. Cunningham.

The opening to all traffic, on July 2, of the four-and-a-half miles of double line between Hatton and Bearley marks the completion of a widening scheme which was commenced in March of last year. No particular engineering difficulties were encountered on the work, the main feature being the provision of extensive additional accommodation at Claverdon, where a new station, comprising two platforms, each 450 feet long, with waiting-room accommodation on each platform, has been constructed adjoining an overbridge. There are short ramped approaches between the main road and the platforms, and the station buildings, comprising booking and parcels offices, are on the up side. A reinforced concrete footbridge connects the down platform with the booking-office. The old station at Claverdon is being converted into a goods lock-up, and the old station wharf has been replaced by a mileage yard. A new signal box takes the place of two ground frames formerly in use.

At Bearley, the up and down platforms, originally 285 feet and 375 feet long, have been lengthened to 450 feet and 550 feet, respectively, the construction of the new platforms being of pre-cast reinforced concrete trestles and decking, covered with fine tarmac. A steel footbridge now connects the platforms, and the station master's office and waiting-room on the down platform have been rebuilt. Very little additional land had to be acquired for the doubling of this portion of railway. Some 30,000 cubic yards of excavation were removed in widening the cuttings, and it was found possible to use most of the excavated material in giving additional width to embankments. One of the photographs (see 'gwrc1668') shows a mechanical excavator at work on the 30 foot cutting near 14 mile post. The steel superstructures of four small bridges were widened. For one bridge it was necessary to demolish the old wing walls for extension of the abutments to carry the additional superstructure. Advantage has been taken of the opportunity afforded by the doubling to realign the curves throughout the section for fast running. Electric lighting has been brought into use throughout; new locking frames have been installed in the signal boxes at Hatton and Bearley; and the well water supply at Claverdon has been replaced by one taken from the Birmingham waterworks.

The works were carried out under the direction of the Chief Engineer, the contract work being supervised by the writer. From the historical point of view, it may be said that the conclusion of the Hatton – Bearley widening here referred to, completes the doubling of the Hatton to Stratford branch. This branch, nine-and-a-quarter miles long, was opened as a single line, broad gauge, with a third rail to standard gauge in October, 1860, and in 1861 it was connected with the standard gauge Honeybourne to Stratford branch of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, which had been opened two years earlier. From January 1, 1863, all regular trains on the branch were run on standard gauge. Doubling of the line between Stratford and Bearley was carried out at the same time as the doubling of the Honeybourne to Stratford branch and the construction of the Birmingham and North Warwickshire line, which was opened to traffic on July 1, 1908.

Much of the information on this and other pages of Warwickshire Railways is derived from articles or books listed in our 'bibliography'.

The Original Claverdon Station

Ref: gwrc874 J Alsop View of Claverdon station with the Station master standing under one of the station oil lamps

Ref: gwrc10 Postcard Claverdon station as a train steams under the road bridge at the Bearley end of the station

Ref: gwrc1369 C Gilbert A view along the platform at Claverdon Station towards Hatton showing the 1860 station building

Ref: gwrc2337 C Glibert Another view of the original Claverdon Station showing a substantial number of open five plank mineral wagons

Ref: gwrc872 Anon An early picture of Claverdon Station after track modifications but before the platform signal box was built

Ref: gwrc872a Anon Close up of the unloading of manure from a GW open wagon on to a two wheel cart on the wharf

Ref: gwrc12 P Hopkins General view of Claverdon Station looking towards Hatton showing little change from earlier views

Ref: gwrc12a P Hopkins The original 1860 station building built as a single storey in red brick building with a slate roof

Ref: gwrc12b P Hopkins View of loading bank showing two open wagons with rounded ends, a common feature in early open wagons

Ref: gwrc4 Anon The coal, coke, mineral salt and lime merchant, Messrs E. Thomas operated from the Claverdon loading bank

Ref: gwrc3 Postcard Coal being unloaded from a Private Owner wagon into the horse drawn cart on Claverdon's loading bank

Ref: gwrc547 WoW Claverdon station viewed from the road bridge at the turn of the century, with a goods engine shunting in the loop

Ref: gwrc871 E Thomas Claverdon station looks more like a canal than a railway following the Whitsun Floods in 1932

Ref: gwrc11 Real Photos Looking to Bearley through the road bridge which shows the other abutment of the west occupation bridge

Ref: gwrc548 Anon The old station now turned into a goods lock-up after the opening of the new station in 1939

Ref: gwrc549 Anon Looking towards Bearley, the new station and double track viewed through the road bridge arch

Ref: gwrc915 NRM Looking down from the road bridge towards Hatton during the doubling and construction work

Ref: gwrc905 NRM View prior to doubling of the line showing the single track line towards Bearley from the road bridge

Doubling of the line and rebuilding of Claverdon Station

Ref: gwrc906 NRM Standing on the single branch line looking back towards the road bridge, beyond which is Claverdon old station

Ref: gwrc907 NRM View of the work on the new 450ft platforms taken from the position of the future road-side booking office

Ref: gwrc908 NRM View showing the new platform facing walls complete whilst work was well under way on the platform waiting rooms

Ref: gwrc909 NRM View showing the road-side booking office complete as work starts on the new footbridge by the road bridge

Ref: gwrc914 NRM A new goods siding was constructed on the site of the loading wharf with access at rail level

Ref: gwrc917 NRM A view from the top of the occupation bridge abutment at the Hatton end of the station

Ref: gwrc918 NRM View of the widening works with a contractors narrow gauge tramway being loaded by a crawler crane and bucket

Ref: gwrc1668 GWR Magazine View of one of the crawler cranes in action widening the line between Hatton and Bearley in early 1939

Ref: gwrc925 NRM Looking towards Hatton from the road bridge, a few months prior to the opening of double track and new station

Ref: gwrc923 NRM A view of the old station from the Hatton end of the goods yard shortly before the original station was closed

Ref: gwrc913 NRM View of the north end of the station taken from the new Signal Box looking towards Hatton

Ref: gwrc926 NRM View of the new GW type 12a Signal Box which was built to control the new signalling and the goods loop points

Ref: gwrc910 NRM View showing the up platform waiting room with the ramp leading up to the road-side booking office

Ref: gwrc911 NRM View showing the new down platform waiting room with ramp leading up to the new reinforced concrete footbridge

The Rebuilt 1939 Claverdon Station

Ref: gwrc912 NRM View showing the road-side booking office, parcels office and cycle shelter while at the front corner is an electric light

Ref: gwrc916 NRM A view of the road-level buildings seen from the platform entrance of the old station on 24th April 1939

Ref: gwrc6 Lens of Sutton A 1950 view of the 1930s road level station building containing on the left the booking office and hall

Ref: gwrc7 Lens of Sutton Another view of the road-level buildings showing the limited parking provided as seen during the 1950s

Ref: gwrc3853 WoW A 1964 view of the road-level buildings with the GWR logo now removed from the canopy

Ref: gwrc5 RS Carpenter The 1930s road-level station buildings viewed from the access road to the original station on 23rd March 1981

Ref: gwrc9 Lens of Sutton View looking towards Hatton showing replacement station built the south side of the road bridge after doubling

Ref: gwrc8 Lens of Sutton Looking along the 1930s replacement station platforms from beneath the road bridge towards Bearley

Ref: gwrc2338 R&CHS - Cook Collection Claverdon station looking towards Hatton showing the identical, but mirror image, waiting rooms and toilets

Locomotives seen at or near Claverdon Station

Ref: gwrc2261 B Hicks Ex-GWR 2251 class 0-6-0 No 3217 passing the old station at Claverdon on Tuesday 1st September 1964

Ref: gwrc919 J Edgington Viewed from the footbridge GWR 4-6-0 No 6851 Hurst Grange starts away from Claverdon for Leamington

Ref: gwrc921 J Edgington Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 4118 passes the old Claverdon station with a Leamington to Stratford local passenger train

Ref: gwrc927 G Coltas GWR 2-6-2T No 5162 passes the old station three months before the new double track and station are opened

Ref: gwrc550 Anon GWR 4-6-0 5013 'Castle' class No 5042 'Winchester Castle' on a Leamington to Gloucester train

Ref: gwrc870 B Hicks GWR Collett 0-6-0 No 3217 on a two coach train passes under the road bridge after leaving Claverdon station

Ref: gwrc873 G Batchelor The Royal train hauled by ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No 44919 with HM The Queen Mother on board

Ref: gwrc922 HJ Stretton-Ward Ex-GWR 0-4-2T 58xx Class No 5815 pauses to run bunker first on a local stopping service to Leamington

Ref: gwrc924 WA Camwell A view of the recently opened station from the new footbridge adjacent to the road bridge

Ref: gwrc2334 KRM GWR Diesel Railcar No 4 is seen on an up service to Leamington just south of Claverdon station in 1939

GWR and Ordnance Survey Maps

Ref: gwrc4004 GWR 1884 Land Survey Plan GWR plan showing land purchased by the Stratford Railway Company for their line at Claverdon

Ref: gwrc3854 National Library of Scotland An 1886 25 inches to the mile OS Map showing Claverdon Station and the single siding goods yard

Ref: gwrc3855 National Library of Scotland An 1903 25 inches to the mile OS Map showing Claverdon Station and the single siding goods yard

Ref: gwrc3856 National Library of Scotland An 1923 25 inches to the mile OS Map showing Claverdon Station and the single siding goods yard