Appledore
The old railway route and ruins of Appledore station
General information
LocationAppledore, Torridge
England
Coordinates51°03′22″N 4°11′42″W / 51.0561°N 4.1950°W / 51.0561; -4.1950
Grid referenceSS463307
Platforms1
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyBideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway
Pre-groupingBritish Electric Traction
Key dates
1 May 1908[1]Opened
28 March 1917Closed[2]

Appledore railway station was a railway station in north Devon, situated close to the village of Appledore, a community lying on the peninsula formed by the sea (Barnstaple Bay), the River Torridge, and the River Taw.[3]

History

The station was, from 1 May 1908, the terminus of a line running some 7½ miles from Bideford.[4] This line had until 1901 run only as far as Northam.[3] Mr Harold Robert Moody was the station master.[5] The station closed on 28 March 1917 when the locomotives were taken away for use in World War 1.

Infrastructure

The route of the railway.

Appledore had a 300-ft long, one-foot high platform, situated on the down side of the line.[6] Brick built public toilets, a general and ladies waiting rooms and ticket office were provided,[7] similar in appearance to those built at Westward Ho!. Two railway cottages were built at the site.[8][9] The station had gas lighting and was unique for the line in having a footbridge; this allowed access from Irsha Street to nearby allotments.[8]

A run-round loop was provided, together with a dead-end siding, engine shed, water tower, hydrant, and coal store. The signal cabin, situated on the platform, had ten levers and the station was controlled by up, down, and distant signals.[7] An example of the unusual B,WH&AR single post buffer stop was at the end of the siding.[8]

Micro history

A terracotta memorial entitled 'Appledore station', on a background of locomotive wheels and gearing, produced by ceramic artist Maggie Curtis, commemorates the old station.[10]

The trackbed from Appledore to Richmond Road Halt was converted into a road in 1935 and the station buildings were demolished apart from the back wall.[11]

See also

Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway
 Appledore
 Lovers' Lane Halt
 Richmond Road Halt
 Northam
 Beach Road
 Westward Ho!
 Cornborough
 Abbotsham Road
 Kenwith Castle Halt
 Causeway
 The Lane Halt
Locomotive shed
Strand Road Halt
 Bideford Quay
 Bideford
North Devon Railway
Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Terminus   Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway   Lovers' Lane Halt
Line and station closed

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Baxter, Page 23
  2. ↑ Jenkins, Page 123
  3. 1 2 Jenkins, Page 110
  4. ↑ Garner, Page 29
  5. ↑ Jenkins, Page 116
  6. ↑ Garner, Page 70
  7. 1 2 Jenkins, Page 142
  8. 1 2 3 Jenkins, Page 113
  9. ↑ Garner, Page 76
  10. ↑ Garner, Pages 105 & 6
  11. ↑ Garner, Page 105
Sources
  • Baxter, Julia & Jonathan (1980). The Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore railway 1901–1917. Pub. Chard. ISBN 0-9507330-1-6.
  • Garner, Rod (2008). The Bideford, Westward Ho! & Appledore Railway. Pub. Kestrel Railway Books. ISBN 978-1-905505-09-8.
  • Jenkins, Stanley C. (1993). The Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway. Oxford : Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-452-0.
  • Stuckey, Douglas (1962). The Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway 1901–1917. Pub. West Country Publications.
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