Whitwell Halt railway station

Whitwell Halt
The entrance to Whitwell Station in late 2008.
General information
LocationWhitwell, Isle of Wight
England
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyNewport, Godshill & St Lawrence Railway
Pre-groupingIsle of Wight Central Railway
Post-groupingSouthern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
Key dates
20 July 1897Opened as Whitwell[1]
1 July 1941Renamed Whitwell Halt
15 September 1952Closed[1][2]
A 1914 Railway Clearing House map of lines around The Isle of Wight.

Whitwell Station, on the Ventnor West branch of the Isle of Wight Central Railway, was opened on 20 July 1897[1] along with the other stations on the branch[3] (with the exception of Ventnor West which opened in 1900). It was equipped with a passing loop, two platforms, a signal box and a substantial station building.

History

The station was opened on 20 July 1897, and was originally named Whitwell.[1] At the time of opening the route was popular featuring a passing loop and two platforms, the only station on the line to have this.[2] It was renamed Whitwell Halt on 1 July 1941.[1]

Stationmasters

  • James Cooper ca. 1899
  • Samuel John Urry ca. 1907[4] (afterwards station master at Freshwater)
  • F. Newland from 1908[5] (formerly station master at Freshwater)
  • Mr. Hawkins ca. 1935

Present

Former station buildings, with some modern alterations and additions

The station is now a private dwelling house, but a good deal of its original railway-station features remain, such as the waiting shelter on the old up platform, which has been restored.

Location

Unlike neighbouring Godshill, the station was closer to the community it was meant to serve. It also served the nearby villages of Niton and Chale.


Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
St Lawrence   British Railways
Southern Region
IoW CR : Ventnor West branch 		  Godshill

Other stations on the branch

Main article: Ventnor West branch

The other stations on the Ventnor West branch were:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 249. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  2. ^ a b "Disused Stations Site Record - Whitwell Station". www.subbrit.org.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Whitwell Station Homepage". www.whitwellstation.co.uk. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Ex-convicts suicide". Portsmouth Evening News. England. 8 October 1907. Retrieved 31 July 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "New Station Master". Isle of Wight County Press and South of England Reporter. England. 3 October 1908. Retrieved 31 July 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.

50°36′06″N 1°15′49″W / 50.6018°N 1.2636°W / 50.6018; -1.2636