LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Nuneaton

Nuneaton Abbey Street Station: mrna401

One of Abbey Street station's two goods sheds is seen in the background behind soldiers of the 1st Dorset Regiment. The shed has been built using timber for the frame and cladding mounted on top of a stone platform contained entirely within the shed. Being of a similar height to the floor of a railway wagon or road vehicle the platform made the process of off-loading or loading by staff using porter barrows so much easier. Inside such sheds would be a booking clerk to record all goods in and out, either from a desk or even in busier locations a separate office. The shed would normally be secure for holding goods of value over night.

Pete Lee records in his book Railways of Nuneaton and Bedworth that the soldiers were posted to the area to deter sabotage and disruption by striking railwaymen. Soldiers were also billeted in the Stockingford area as well guarding railway locations throughout both areas. The practice of using the armed forces during strikes was common up to the early part of the 20th century. It was not surprising that the soldiers came from a 'foreign' regiment as it would remove the problem of familiarity that may have occurred if it had been a local regiment.

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