Branch Line Station Master's Housing

[Andy873]

One thing that struck me a few years ago (whilst researching my old branch line) was the two very different types of station master's houses. I wonder what types of housing station master's were given? here are the two SM's houses...

Great Harwood: The bottom left corner house (just opposite the station) was the house for the SM, you can see it's bigger than the other terrace houses and has a garden area, the house itself also has a bay window.

Georeferenced Maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland

Padiham: A completely different one, here the house was situated on the first floor above the booking office, it had a curving set of steps leading up to a walkway that led to the house itself. The walkway also had a gate for direct access onto the down platform.

Georeferenced Maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland

Questions:
Looking at the Padiham one, what's the triangle section (ground level) that backs onto (on the right) Railway Road? looks like a garden area to me?

What different types (examples) of housing for station masters do you know about on branch lines?
Looks like you'd be given a more spacious house because of your status in the community?
Did they often come with a garden for example even in towns?
I presume they were always close to the station itself just in case you were needed?

The two examples above: the Padiham one is no more as it was demolished along with the rest of the station, however the other one still exists.

Thanks.

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like you'd be given a more spacious house because of your status in the community?
Did they often come with a garden for example even in towns?
I presume they were always close to the station itself just in case you were needed?

Not really status in the community, all stationmasters had respect 150+ years ago

The level of importance was the number of staff needed at the station depending on how busy it was. Even quite small country stations often had booking clerks, porters, signalmen, a shunter. Some would have had junior porters, telegraph boy (runner), goods office staff.

 

[Gloster]

I am not quite sure I have identified the correct triangular piece at Padiham. If is the bit just south of the corner directly across the road from the Railway Hotel (corner of Railway Street (?) and the station approach), I doubt that it was a garden, if only because it looks rather large. It could have been a piece of ground that the railway had been forced to purchase when building the line and was disused while they waited to see if it was needed for railway use, or could be sold or rented out.

There are no fixed rules with Station Masters’ residencies, other than that they were likely to get bigger and better the more important the station was, but even that wasn’t certain. Sometimes the railway bought an existing property near (usually) the station, sometimes they rented one or left the SM to sort it out. At some stations, particularly (but not only) small ones, it was best to have the SM living above the job, but at others the various rooms in the station building were needed for operational purposes.

Gardens were common, but in some places, almost all urban, the accommodation was more like a flat. There were a few cases where the SM’s house was some way from the station, but this was usually larger stations where there were always fairly senior staff (Inspectors, etc.) on duty who could deal with most eventualities; there might be no room for the SM in the station and a suitable railway owned property elsewhere. The status of the SM in the local community didn’t really rely on the size of his house as his status was because he was the SM: he didn’t need to do have local big wigs round for drinks or dinner.

 

[Andy873]

I am not quite sure I have identified the correct triangular piece at Padiham. If is the bit just south of the corner directly across the road from the Railway Hotel (corner of Railway Street (?) and the station approach), I doubt that it was a garden, if only because it looks rather large. It could have been a piece of ground that the railway had been forced to purchase when building the line and was disused while they waited to see if it was needed for railway use, or could be sold or rented out.

Yes, that's it, but just for clarification I've zoomed on it here:

Georeferenced Maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland

The "Triangle-ish" area from this 1890's town map shows a pathed area around it and a small building perhaps a shed? with a roof on it - who knows.

It's interesting what you're both telling me, with regards to the SM's house at Padiham it certainly was larger than a flat. It had a parlour, kitchen, scullery, pantry, three bedrooms, a WC and a landing that led to the front door.

There are no fixed rules with Station Masters’ residencies, other than that they were likely to get bigger and better the more important the station was

The SM at Padiham was also responsible for the running of Simonstone just one mile away, perhaps that's why there was a reasonable house built at Padiham station... indeed, Simonstone didn't even have an SM's office let alone an SM's house.

I wonder just how small a station had to become before the idea of having an SM / accommodation would be left out / not included?

Are there any examples of really small stations that had a SM and house, I guess it would depend on the station's location and facilities?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What typically happened to the Stationmaster when they retired? Were they obliged to then vacate their railway-provided tied accommodation?

 

[Big Jumby 74]

My guess as to that piece of land, which seems to show (as said) a footpath around the edge, would be a small allotment. As for Station Managers, once at that lofty grade they will have been the masters of their own patch for the most part, so would have been responsible for their own accommodation and any alterations there to, I would think, assuming the latter came within the overall allocated budget(s).
I have some plans from NR for changes made to the upstairs accommodation at Ascot in LSWR days, designed to add an additional bedroom, the overall encompassing three bedrooms, a kitchen and a lounge. This interested me as I often use to attend meetings in those rooms, which have long since been given over to office space, as one would expect.

What typically happened to the Stationmaster when they retired? Were they obliged to then vacate their railway-provided tied accommodation?

I am guessing, but if the accommodation was still required for someone in that post, then a retiree would probably be required to vacate same? But if circumstances change, as they do over time, rationalisation etc, and the accommodation was no longer required for active railway use, it might well be leased out - quite possibly to the sitting tenant as it were. I know of one such station house close to me which was leased out to its present (ex railwayman) occupier decades ago, and of course it can help to have a pair of eyes, albeit retired, still over seeing things in a loose sense.

 

[Gloster]

It's interesting what you're both telling me, with regards to the SM's house at Padiham it certainly was larger than a flat. It had a parlour, kitchen, scullery, pantry, three bedrooms, a WC and a landing that led to the front door.


The SM at Padiham was also responsible for the running of Simonstone just one mile away, perhaps that's why there was a reasonable house built at Padiham station... indeed, Simonstone didn't even have an SM's office let alone an SM's house.

I wonder just how small a station had to become before the idea of having an SM / accommodation would be left out / not included?

Are there any examples of really small stations that had a SM and house, I guess it would depend on the station's location and facilities?

I was meaning a flat in the sense of a section of a building that was mainly used for other purposes, normally the station in these cases. It might have a garden or a small yard, but not necessarily: somewhere for the SM’s wife to dry his clothes so he could look respectable was probably the company’s only interest. The railway called and treated its employees as servants and the only reason to provide housing was to increase and facilitate their availability for work whenever the company required them.

Was the SM at Padiham responsible for Simonstone when the line was opened or was the SM at the latter removed at some point as an economy? The number of other locations that an SM controlled would not affect the size of his accommodation directly, but it might put him up a grade, which would. However, SM’s house were often provided early on and would not often be replaced if the station became a bit more important, unless there was wholesale rebuilding.

Most stations, but not halts, had an SM and would need an SM’s house. Small stations in rural areas would need one due to the lack of local accommodation.

What typically happened to the Stationmaster when they retired? Were they obliged to then vacate their railway-provided tied accommodation?

For much of the railway era they would have to leave and find non-railway accommodation. It was only during the period of closures that they were sometimes able to buy or continue to rent their old home. The same tended to apply to widows and families if the SM died in service, whether or not it was due for railway causes.

 

[Andy873]

My guess as to that piece of land, which seems to show (as said) a footpath around the edge, would be a small allotment.

It looks like it. There's a small roofed building next to it, could be a shed or perhaps a greenhouse? Looking at the old OS maps from around 1910 I can see plenty of allotments on the edges of the towns, so then as now, growing your own veg was and still is a popular pass time.

Was the SM at Padiham responsible for Simonstone when the line was opened or was the SM at the latter removed at some point as an economy?

Unknown, but I know the layout of Simonstone station, there certainly wasn't a station master's office there. There is an old photo from around 1910 showing a staff photo of them sitting on a wooden bench outside on the down platform, and as far as we can tell one of them was a station master. There are a couple of rows of terrace houses close to the station but no literature ever mentions a SM there. Also, the closure meeting in 1964 (with staff concerned) mentions the SM at Padiham supervising Simonstone station - but I don't know if that was always the case.

Just revisiting Great Harwood, the SM's house also looks to have more outdoor space than the other houses, and again (although smaller) it does look like two small allotments or possibly garden space.

I've zoomed on to the house here (the corner house):

Georeferenced Maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland

The next thing was a garage for a car (later obviously), this wooden garage was situated on railway land (goods yard land) right next to the station itself and it certainly survived until 1974 at least. Again, this is not written about anywhere but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't for the SM there?

For much of the railway era they would have to leave and find non-railway accommodation. It was only during the period of closures that they were sometimes able to buy or continue to rent their old home. The same tended to apply to widows and families if the SM died in service, whether or not it was due for railway causes.

Not sure what happened regarding the SM's house, all I know is that he finished around 1960 and I don't know if he stayed there, but I do know he was the last SM at Great Harwood.

I guess a station master's accommodation would in some ways be the luck of the draw. The first SM of Padiham was re-assigned from Hapton station on the East Lancs line, I would suspect it was a step up for him (being a much bigger station) and presumably so was the accommodation?

 

[30907]

Padiham was clearly purpose-built using the available space.

As for Great Harwood - it's part of a terrace which looks to have been built as one rather than piecemeal. Was the whole built by/for the L&Y - or did the company negotiate with the builder/developer to have the end house made slightly larger? Or was the builder just making best use of the space, or a bit of both (the far end house of the terrace is also slightly larger than standard, but not as posh!).

On the general topic - it was common for the house to be integrated with the station buildings (Corfe Castle is a classic) but not always - my home station of Shortlands had a good-sized detached house on the corner plot (now a car park) between the station approach and Shortlands Road.

 

[Gloster]

Unknown, but I know the layout of Simonstone station, there certainly wasn't a station master's office there. There is an old photo from around 1910 showing a staff photo of them sitting on a wooden bench outside on the down platform, and as far as we can tell one of them was a station master. There are a couple of rows of terrace houses close to the station but no literature ever mentions a SM there. Also, the closure meeting in 1964 (with staff concerned) mentions the SM at Padiham supervising Simonstone station - but I don't know if that was always the case.

The next thing was a garage for a car (later obviously), this wooden garage was situated on railway land (goods yard land) right next to the station itself and it certainly survived until 1974 at least. Again, this is not written about anywhere but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't for the SM there?

It is possible that if Simonstone was of as low importance as you say, the SM could be of the lowest grade. His accommodation might be a normal house nearby owned or rented by the railway, or he could be left to organise his own accommodation. His office might just be a partitioned off part of the Booking Office or another room. If the post was done away with, which was quite possible in the 1930s, there would be little left to mark his former presence.

Could the garage have been put up for a railway owned lorry used for goods or parcel deliveries? Some SMs would own cars, particularly in rural areas, but up to the 1950s it was a fair expense for someone on an SM’s salary. A garage for the SM’s car would only rarely be supplied by the railway: an SM might be permitted to erect one himself at his own expense, but if he moved, what then…

 

[Andy873]

it's part of a terrace which looks to have been built as one rather than piecemeal. Was the whole built by/for the L&Y - or did the company negotiate with the builder/developer to have the end house made slightly larger?

It is possible that if Simonstone was of as low importance as you say, the SM could be of the lowest grade. His accommodation might be a normal house nearby owned or rented by the railway, or he could be left to organise his own accommodation. His office might just be a partitioned off part of the Booking Office or another room. If the post was done away with, which was quite possible in the 1930s, there would be little left to mark his former presence.

A BIG thank you to both of you!! good question about the terrace row of houses (Station Road) and the point about an SM at Simonstone - after 6 years researching I didn't think I would find out more...

1. Station Master, Simonstone. I was wrong, there was one! Looking at Barrett's directory from 1898 it lists a Mr Reuben Storer, but it doesn't give his address unfortunately.

2. Great Harwood SM's accommodation and Station Road - using Barrett's directory again, from 1878 up to 1935 inclusive I have now found almost certainly all the SM's here and where they lived:

Mr Birtwell (1st SM) 1878 - in 1881 he lived on Clayton St, 1885 Princess St.
Mr Johnson SM in 1888, sadly no address.
Mr Holt SM 1891, 10 Station Rd.
Mr Heyworth SM 1894, no address but in 1897 lived on Park Rd. In 1903 he moved to 66 Railway View where he stayed and was last listed in 1915 still at the same address.

There is a jump in the directories then to 1935
Mr Bardsley SM 1935, first SM to live at 20 Station Road - the corner house opposite the station.

Finally Mr Dawe 1957 - 1960, last SM of Great Harwood station, also of 20 Station Road.

The 1878 directory describes Great Harwood as a large village.
1885 "an important town"
1888 describes "new houses springing up everywhere" and has the first mention of Station Road.

Going back to 20 Station Road from the 1890 town map... it wasn't the SM's house after all, it was owned by a builder's and contractors.

Conclusions:
The station master's at Great Harwood were indeed left to sort their own accommodation out, you can see them moving around the town. It was only from 1935 that the corner house on Station Road became known as "The Station Master's house".

There was indeed station master's at Simonstone station for a while.

Back in the day, the SM at Padiham station was the only one with an inside toilet, you might not consider that a perk of the job until you need the loo at 3am on a freezing cold winter's late night / early morning!

If the post was done away with, which was quite possible in the 1930s, there would be little left to mark his former presence.

Why the 1930's please? cost savings by the LMS perhaps?

The 1898 at Simonstone also mentions a "pointsman" someone to work the points in the goods yard? or perhaps a signalman?

 

[D6130]

When the original West Highland Railway was opened in 1894, all the intermediate stations with the exception of Whistlefield, Glen Douglas, Gorton and Corrour were provided with handsome and spacious stone-built bungalows - with gardens - for the stationmaster and his family. Most, if not all, of these survive in private ownership/occupation....although the one at Rhu has had an unfortunately incongruous extension added. Whistlefield, Glen Douglas, Gorton and Corrour were considered to be halts, rather than stations and were supervised by the stationmasters of adjoining stations....although the latter three were provided with tiny cottages attached to the inter-track signalboxes to accommodate the signallers - usually a husband and wife team - and their families. Not quite sure what the accomodation arrangements were for the Fort William stationmaster. Perhaps @Cheshire Scot may know?

 

[Taunton]

Company housing for "higher grades", who probably by then already had their own place, tended to die out before it did so for grade staff. Most notably chief GWR engineer Churchward was provided with a grand lineside house in Swindon, "Newburn", complete with domestic staff. His successor, Collett, turned it down, and continued to live in his own house in Chelsea, setting up the chief's office at Paddington rather than Swindon, allowed Churchward to live on there into retirement, and was likely instrumental in the decision after the latter's death to demolish Newburn.

Stanier meantime was poached from Swindon for the CME's position at the LMS, doubtless on a grand salary, and hence bought a significant house in Rickmansworth, which he renamed ... Newburn. He quite possibly had his eyes on his old chief's house from earlier times.

 

[Gloster]

Why the 1930's please? cost savings by the LMS perhaps?

The 1898 at Simonstone also mentions a "pointsman" someone to work the points in the goods yard? or perhaps a signalman?

The Great Depression started in Britain around 1929 and within a year or so the effects were being felt by the railways: all of them, not just the LMS. This resulted in extensive economies: cutting down staff numbers at all levels from station masters to night cleaners at small loco sheds, reducing facilities, withdrawing passenger services, etc. A small and quiet station like Simonstone with a more important one nearby would be ripe for economies such as the loss of its SM.

As Simonstone had a signal box it is almost certain that this is just another name for a signalman, although a largely obsolete one even then. In normal yard shunting the points, except for those leading to the running lines (which are under the control of the signalman), will just be worked by whoever is best placed as part of their general part in the shunting, not a specially appointed person. The description pointsman was only likely to be used in a large yard where the amount of wagons being handled required a permanently staffed Ground Frame or where the frequency of point changes meant that one person carried out just this role.

 

[30907]

2. Great Harwood SM's accommodation and Station Road - using Barrett's directory again, from 1878 up to 1935 inclusive I have now found almost certainly all the SM's here and where they lived:
Mr Birtwell (1st SM) 1878 - in 1881 he lived on Clayton St, 1885 Princess St.
Mr Johnson SM in 1888, sadly no address.
Mr Holt SM 1891, 10 Station Rd.
Mr Heyworth SM 1894, no address but in 1897 lived on Park Rd. In 1903 he moved to 66 Railway View where he stayed and was last listed in 1915 still at the same address

All of them pretty standard 2-up, 2-down terraces.

Going back to 20 Station Road from the 1890 town map... it wasn't the SM's house after all, it was owned by a builder's and contractors.

Maybe the one who built the terrace? Not unusual!

 

[Andy873]

When the original West Highland Railway was opened in 1894, all the intermediate stations with the exception of Whistlefield, Glen Douglas, Gorton and Corrour were provided with handsome and spacious stone-built bungalows - with gardens - for the stationmaster and his family. Most, if not all, of these survive in private ownership/occupation

I watched a documentary a few years back about one of the highland lines. I can't remember which line it was but I remember a guy walking the single line, checking it (tightening up bolts) and clearing of debris. At one point he walks past a house such as you describe. A bungalow type house with a garden and it was right next to the track and no other houses around. At the time it was empty and boarded up.

The Great Depression started in Britain around 1929 and within a year or so the effects were being felt by the railways: all of them, not just the LMS. This resulted in extensive economies: cutting down staff numbers at all levels from station masters to night cleaners at small loco sheds, reducing facilities, withdrawing passenger services, etc. A small and quiet station like Simonstone with a more important one nearby would be ripe for economies such as the loss of its SM.

Thanks for explaining that, so yes, it looks very likely this was when the SM at Simonstone would probably have gone, also thanks for the pointsman explanation.

Maybe the one who built the terrace? Not unusual!

The thought had crossed my mind, the builder's / contractors (at number 20 Station Rd) might very well have had a hand in building the rest of the street, and probably many more.

Question please:
Mr Birtwell, 1st SM at Great Harwood - he was only 28 at the time, does that sound young for a station master? I thought it was a position you would have to work your way up to?

 

[Gloster]

With regard to the lineside cottage, on many lines in the most remote parts of the country the railways had to provide cottages because there just wasn’t anywhere to provide accommodation for the ganger and his family: no towns, villages or hamlets, no large farms or similar. At best there would be the odd isolated cottage and that, even if it was in a suitable location for someone who had to live on the job, would almost certainly be inadequate or unavailable. On lines like the Glasgow-Mallaig West Highland, which was probably the subject of your documentary (it usually is), there weren’t even isolated cottages, just miles and miles of emptiness.

I would say that 28 was a quite normal age for an SM in a relatively unimportant station like Great Harwood, possibly even a touch on the old side, although he may have been promoted from a smaller station. Particularly in the early days many SMs at small stations were quite young, a situation that returned in the period of decline from the mid-1950s. SMs did work their way up: they would start in a junior clerical job, move up a bit and then move on to the SM line of promotion and then slowly move up that, hoping to become the SM at one of the company’s main stations for a few years before they retired. (A simplified, broad-brush explanation.)

 

[Andy873]

I would say that 28 was a quite normal age for an SM in a relatively unimportant station like Great Harwood, possibly even a touch on the old side, although he may have been promoted from a smaller station. Particularly in the early days many SMs at small stations were quite young, a situation that returned in the period of decline from the mid-1950s. SMs did work their way up: they would start in a junior clerical job, move up a bit and then move on to the SM line of promotion and then slowly move up that, hoping to become the SM at one of the company’s main stations for a few years before they retired. (A simplified, broad-brush explanation.)

Interesting, thanks. I know of a Mr Garner the first SM at Padiham, he was re-located from Hapton station on the East Lancs line where he was SM there. Moving to a brand new bigger station I would have thought he would have seen that as a promotion.

With regards to them moving on, the first SM at Great Harwood is gone after (or before) 10 years. His replacement stays for no more than 3 years, the next one again stays only 3 years. Mr Heyworth on the other hand stays at least 21 years (1894 to 1915) and may have stayed longer.

On lines like the Glasgow-Mallaig West Highland, which was probably the subject of your documentary (it usually is), there weren’t even isolated cottages, just miles and miles of emptiness

Which ever line it was, I would have loved to have owned it. It was almost certainly a railway property.

Regarding the SM's accommodation at Simonstone: Two rows of housing went up close to the station there, Bank Terrace and Railway Terrace. One row was on the North side of the line, the other the South side. He probably lived in one of the houses belonging to one row or another as there wasn't very much housing around there.

To solve this one I would need some more free on-line Barrett's directories covering the Burnley area, unfortunately the only one I can find is the 1896 one. It's a great pity to me as I am tying to list all the SM's for the three stations (and their accommodation etc)... anyone got a Barrett's directory for Burnley that's not 1896 please?

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Not quite sure what the accomodation arrangements were for the Fort William stationmaster. Perhaps @Cheshire Scot may know?

The old station had gone by the time I worked there although obviously I had used that station as a passenger in earlier years, I do recall however it was a two storey building, perhaps the Station Master (and family) occupied the upper floor? This was the case at Helensburgh Central.

Interestingly the Station Master's House at Craigendoran was remote from the present (1882) station, being close to the original station on the former alignment of the Helensburgh Central line prior to the deviation to serve the pier being constructed. The last Stationmaster at Craigendoran, Mr Grant, had two daughters, one in my class at primary school and one in my sister's class. After the demise of Station Master posts the daughter of the new occupant of Helensburgh Central Station Master's House also joined my class, her father had transferred to a Traffic Supervisor post in Dumbarton and I can only assume the Helensburgh Central house was the nearest (or most suitable) one available to allocate to him.

On lines like the Glasgow-Mallaig West Highland, which was probably the subject of your documentary (it usually is), there weren’t even isolated cottages, just miles and miles of emptiness.

The West Highland did boast the WTT entry for the morning up passenger train 'Stops ThO between Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum Upper at 441/2 mp when required for domestic purposes'. Domestic purposes meaning to enable the platelayers wife to go shopping from their lineside cottage at the 441/2 mile post (remote from the nearest road), the down evening train had a similar entry which for much of the year would be in the hours of darkness. This entry from the 78/79 WTT and no doubt there others and more numerous in earlier years on various routes.

 

[Shrewbly]

Mr Birtwell, 1st SM at Great Harwood - he was only 28 at the time, does that sound young for a station master? I thought it was a position you would have to work your way up to?

Looking at my great great grandfather's records I was surprised to see how rapidly you could progress to become a Station Master. He apparently joined the railway in 1863 (as a number taker - not sure what that is, though I might have done some of that in my youth!), then only 9 months later he became station master at Peterborough Crescent. He was however older (29) when he joined the railway.

 

[Gloster]

Looking at my great great grandfather's records I was surprised to see how rapidly you could progress to become a Station Master. He apparently joined the railway in 1863 (as a number taker - not sure what that is, though I might have done some of that in my youth!), then only 9 months later he became station master at Peterborough Crescent. He was however older (29) when he joined the railway.

A numbertaker recorded the numbers of all wagons, and possibly coaches, that arrived at or left a station; he might also record which trains they arrived or left in. This was particularly important in the days when the Railway Clearing House had to keep track on things in order to allocate earnings, etc. To do this job he would have to be numerate and very probably literate as well. In an era when many people in ‘wages’ grade jobs had only the most basic standards in these two skills he would be at an advantage when seeking promotion to a job where he would have to handle accounts and records. Though I would say that nine months does suggest a bit of luck or being noticed as an unusually promising employee.

(My second job on the railway was Leading Railman, Numbertaker. I had to record the numbers of all incoming wagons, report empty ones to the TOPS office, check and label wagons that were to go, and enter everything up in old-fashioned ledgers. That was the morning: in the afternoon I was heaving parcels.)

 

[Shrewbly]

Many thanks @Gloster

That's really interesting information.

My G-G-Grandfather went on to have a long career with the Midland Railway and was station master at a number of varied stations. To bring myself a little more back on topic, the station master's houses that he and his family occupied were also quite varied and it would seem that the accommodation did not always match the importance (or lack of importance) of the station.

 

[Andy873]

My G-G-Grandfather went on to have a long career with the Midland Railway and was station master at a number of varied stations. To bring myself a little more back on topic, the station master's houses that he and his family occupied were also quite varied and it would seem that the accommodation did not always match the importance (or lack of importance) of the station.

All interesting, thanks. Do you know where he moved to? I'd never heard of Peterborough Crescent before but I can see it was only open for around 8 years, was he the last SM there?

 

[Titfield]

On the general topic - it was common for the house to be integrated with the station buildings (Corfe Castle is a classic) but not always - my home station of Shortlands had a good-sized detached house on the corner plot (now a car park) between the station approach and Shortlands Road.

Corfe Castle Station House (part of the station building) and Swanage Station House (part of the station building) are mirror images of each other.

 

[Shrewbly]

I'd never heard of Peterborough Crescent before but I can see it was only open for around 8 years, was he the last SM there?

He was the last station master there. I assume that he was given the role to over-see the closure.

All must have gone well because he moved on to be station master at the following stations:

Hampton in Arden
Matlock Bridge
Lancaster Green Ayre
Tewkesbury*
and Sutton Park - (station master at the opening - which had been strongly opposed by local residents)

I think there are some gaps in dates so this list is probably not complete. Also verbal family history suggests he might have been station master at Nottingham at some point, but I can find no evidence of this.

For his last 15 years or more with the Midland Railway he had a desk job in Derby.

* While at Tewkesbury he had something of a mid-life crisis. As a widower with three young children he married the much younger daughter of the local innkeeper, left the railway, took over the pub, went bankrupt and then rejoined the railway - all in about 4 years!

 

[Andy873]

He was the last station master there. I assume that he was given the role to over-see the closure.

All must have gone well because he moved on to be station master at the following stations:

Hampton in Arden
Matlock Bridge
Lancaster Green Ayre
Tewkesbury*
and Sutton Park - (station master at the opening - which had been strongly opposed by local residents)

I think there are some gaps in dates so this list is probably not complete. Also verbal family history suggests he might have been station master at Nottingham at some point, but I can find no evidence of this.

For his last 15 years or more with the Midland Railway he had a desk job in Derby.

* While at Tewkesbury he had something of a mid-life crisis. As a widower with three young children he married the much younger daughter of the local innkeeper, left the railway, took over the pub, went bankrupt and then rejoined the railway - all in about 4 years!

Thanks for that, he did move around then. Shame he fell on hard times but he eventually got through it all, good for him. I'm presuming he was left to find his own accommodation?

Corfe Castle Station House (part of the station building) and Swanage Station House (part of the station building) are mirror images of each other.

It seems then it was really down to the railway company as to whether they provided you with accommodation or it was down to you to find something suitable.