The campaign to save the world’s oldest railway station has this week received a major £90,000 boost, but there are fears that the surprise general election may have derailed its chances of being ready for the bicentenary next year.
The Railway Heritage Trust is climbing aboard the campaign of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway to buy and restore Heighington station on the outskirts of Newton Aycliffe by making an “exceptional” donation which means a substantial part of the £500,000 target has already been raised.
READ MORE: SOS: LAUNCH OF THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE OUR STATION
AND: INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO CAMPAIGN TO SAVE WORLD'S OLDEST STATION
Niall Hammond, of the Friends of the S&DR, and architect Owen Plummer at Heighington Station after the announcement of the £90,000 grant. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT
Niall Hammond, chair of the Friends, said: “We really welcome this significant help from the trust which is a clear signal about the national, if not international, significance of Heighington as the world’s first railway station.”
The station, which doubled as a pub, was built in 1826 less than a year after the opening of the S&DR when the concept of passenger waiting rooms was completely new. It therefore plays an important part in the development of the modern railway, which is why the trust has gone out of its way to help.
Trust director Tim Hedley-Jones said: “Our normal funding can only be used to invest in Network Rail and National Highways assets, but we have been lucky enough to receive a legacy which we are able to invest and have made this exceptional decision because of the high historical importance of Heighington to the story of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
“We have therefore made a firm commitment to this project and fully support plans by the Friends to purchase the site, restore the building and make it a welcoming space for visitors and the local community to better appreciate the part it played in the development of railways across the world.”
Heighington station was built in 1826 when the concept of passenger waiting rooms was completely new
It is, though, currently derelict, and the Friends fear if, left to rot further, it will be an embarrassing eyesore when the railway celebrates its 200th anniversary next year. The Friends launched their Save Our Station campaign in February, which has so far raised an amazing £15,000 from public donations.
The Railway Heritage Trust’s £90,000 goes with a £10,000 donation from the Headley Trust which will assist with the project’s development costs.
Support has come from local councils, including Durham County Council, and even from local masons’ lodges, as John Carter, who built the station in 1826, was a mason.
However, the Friends were hoping that they could successfully bid for money allocated by the last Conservative government for “levelling up”, but Rishi Sunak’s snap summer election and subsequent defeat has thrown that into doubt.
“The Railway Heritage Trust’s grant comes at an important time for our campaign as our application to the Community Ownership Fund, which was a major part of our plan, now sits in limbo following the General Election,” said Mr Hammond. “We have no idea if the fund is continuing or not.
“Time is now running short to bring Heighington back into use again in time for the bicentenary in 2025 – we need another £250,000 to Save Our Station and complete the purchase, and £150,000 to restore it and bring it back to life and reopen to the public.
“Every little helps and we are so grateful for donations big and small, and to all those volunteers who have already helped begin taking care of the site.” To donate, go to the Friends' website: sdr1825.org.uk
A further community tidy up of the site is planned for Saturday, July 27.
READ NEXT: HEIGHINGTON STATION'S PLACE IN WORLD HISTORY
Niall Hammond, of the Friends of the S&DR, and architect Owen Plummer at Heighington Station after the announcement of the £90,000 grant. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT
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