Blenheim and Woodstock railway station

Blenheim & Woodstock was a railway station constructed in the neoclassical style which served the town of Woodstock and Blenheim Palace in the English county of Oxfordshire. The station, as well as the line, was constructed by the Duke of Marlborough[1] and was privately run until 1897 when it became part of the Great Western Railway. The number of trains serving the station was cut in the late 1930s, and again in 1952 down to only six trains a day.[2] The last train ran on 27 February 1954 adorned with a wreath.

Blenheim & Woodstock
LocationWoodstock, West Oxfordshire
England
Grid referenceSP446167
Platforms1
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyWoodstock Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGWR
Key dates
19 May 1890Station opens
1 March 1954Station closes

The station building was initially converted into a garage and petrol station. Then the forecourt of the site was no longer used as a petrol station, but for used car sales only with a building company using some of the land behind the station. There were proposals for demolishing the building to make space for housing,[3][4] but the district council rejected them as "The former station building makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Woodstock Conservation Area."[5] Approval was given only after the plans included retaining the station building.[6][7]

In 2013 the land behind the station building was built on as a small estate of high specification houses, and the station building was retained with no major changes to the main structure but small changes to the detail. It is now used as small offices and commercial premises. The forecourt is a small landscaped garden.

  • The station from the rails side
  • Last day of service in 1954
  • 1961

Routes
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Shipton-on-Cherwell Halt
Line and station closed		   Great Western Railway
Blenheim and Woodstock Branch Line		   Terminus

References
  1. Searle, MV (1983) Lost Lines: Anthology of Britain's Lost Railways, New Cavendish Books p. 128.
  2. Searle, MV (1983) Lost Lines: Anthology of Britain's Lost Railways, New Cavendish Books p. 129.
  3. Sheldrick, Giles (1 August 2008). "Campaigners fight for old station". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  4. Rivett, Jen (18 January 2010). "Objectors step up fight over old Woodstock railway station". Oxford Mail. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  5. "Woodstock Station Spared Demolition for the Second Time". Save Britain's Heritage. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. Jennings, Tom (1 February 2011). "Woodstock station may be saved". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  7. "Notice of decision 11/0153/P/FP" (PDF). West Oxfordshire District Council. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  • Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
  • Jowett, Alan (2000). Jowett's Nationalised Railway Atlas (1st ed.). Penryn, Cornwall: Atlantic Transport Publishers. ISBN 978-0-906899-99-1. OCLC 228266687.
  • Aerial image of the station from 1929

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