Helmdon railway station

Helmdon railway station served the village and civil parish of Helmdon in Northamptonshire on the former Great Central Main Line (GCR). It was the second of two stations in the parish, the first being Helmdon Village on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway.

Helmdon
General information
Location	Helmdon, West Northamptonshire England
Grid reference	SP586430
Platforms	2
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	Great Central Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Central Railway
Post-grouping	London and North Eastern Railway London Midland Region of British Railways
Key dates
15 March 1899	Opened as Helmdon
1928	Renamed Helmdon for Sulgrave
4 March 1963	station closed
1966	line closed

History

A 1911 Railway Clearing House map of railways in the vicinity of Helmdon (lower centre, in pink labelled "G.C.")

The GCR main line was the last main line to be built from northern England to London.^[1] It opened for passenger services on 15 March 1899 and for goods services in April.^[2] The station, originally named "Helmdon", opened with the line on 15 March 1899.^[3]

From the station the line ran northwards on an embankment before crossing the valley on the nine-arch Helmdon Viaduct^[4] over the River Tove.

Helmdon was the nearest station for Sulgrave Manor, which had been the home of George Washington's ancestors in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the 1920s the house was restored and opened as a museum, and due to this connection the LNER renamed Helmdon station "Helmdon for Sulgrave" in 1928.^[3]

British Railways closed the station to passengers on 4 March 1963^[3] and to goods on 2 November 1964.^[5] In 1966 BR closed the line and the station was demolished. The platforms remain albeit largely hidden in the undergrowth.^[6] ‎^[update]The viaduct remains.

Route

Preceding station		Disused railways		Following station
Brackley Central Line and station closed		Great Central Railway London Extension		Culworth Line and station closed

See also

• The Reshaping of British Railways

Notes

1. Dow 1962, p. 339.
2. Dow 1962, p. 340.
3. Butt 1995, p. 118.
4. Dow 1962, p. 322.
5. Mitchell & Smith 2006, fig. 83.
6. Mitchell & Smith 2006, fig. 84.

References

• Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
• Dow, George (1962). Great Central. Vol. Two: Dominion of Watkin, 1864–1899. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1469-8.
• Mitchell, Victor E.; Smith, Keith (2006). Aylesbury to Rugby. Midland Main Lines. Midhurst: Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1-904474-91-3.

External links

• Helmdon Station on navigable 1946 O.S. map

52.0828°N 1.1459°W / 52.0828; -1.1459