Bampton and the Railway

Little evidence remains in Bampton of the old railway - but in the surrounding area there are obvious lengths of disused railway lines - courtesy of the infamous Dr Beeching in the 1960's. When driving along the Exe valley, it is easy to spot raised embankments and old bridges where the railway used to run.

Bampton was once part of the Exe Valley Railway (which included a branch line to Tiverton). It was then possible to go by train to Exeter St David's in the south, or to go northwards to Dulverton (actually the station was well outside the town) from where one could go to Taunton or to Barnstable.

The old photograph on the right shows a fascinating view of the railway sidings at Bampton Station - it is taken from the top of the church tower. The main GWR line swoops of to the right to run alongside the river and towards Tiverton. On the right is the signal box beyond which is a siding with pens which was used for loading cattle for Bampton Market (which was alongside the western side of the station, now 'Market Close'). But you can also see the special railway sidings and trucks running over the river bridge to the stone-crushing plant in Scott's Quarry at top left.

Bampton Station closed on 5th October 1963.

The railway station opened in 1884, and closed in October 1963. Over its span of nearly 80 years, it carried not only people but cattle, sheep, and ponies to market. In 1898, railway access to the extensive quarries was constructed, and this was used to transport stone from this thriving industry. However, after the second world war freight traffic was reduced, and by 1950 many quarries were worked out or using road haulage. The picture on the left shows Bampton Station, taken from the railway bridge.

When the railway closed, much was demolished, and the bulldozers resculptured the landscape. The railway had run through the town in a very steep-sided cutting, but you may be forgiven for not noticing this today! The cutting was filled in, as was the railway bridge joining Luke Street to High Street, and you can still make out the top of it by the flower-bed at that point. The photograph below shows a fascinating model of Bampton's railway station which used to be on display at Bickleigh railway museum. The model used to be on show at Bampton Museum (which no longer exists), and it forms part of the Bampton Museum Local History Collection.  It is being restored and added to at present.

The model was made by Donald Michael Clarridge who was Vicar of Bampton 1977 to 1984. There does seem to be some sort of affinity between vicars and railways!

Next to the old bridge is Station House, originally the station master's house whose front door originally looked down into the railway cutting; next door is the Bridge House Hotel, originally the 'Temperance Hotel'! The station was removed, and is now 'Station Car Park' by the church; the sidings have become a modern industrial estate. 

Try moving your mouse over the aerial photo above. This will only work if you have 'active content' enabled.

Before the construction of the railway, 'Station Road' was called 'Western Way' and ran into what is now called 'West Street'.

Walking around Bampton, you can still see bits of the old railway tracks being used to prop up buildings and to provide reinforcement. The two photographs shown on the right are behind Serenger's shop in Back Street. More can be seen in High Street.
If you are really observant you may be able to find bits of the old narrow-gauge railway lines which used to run up from the stone crushing plant to the quarries. Again they have been 'recycled' to provide reinforcement. Bits are visible along the bank on the west side of Station Road car park.

For more information about the railway, there is an excellent book (whose front cover is shown above) with numerous photographs and drawings:

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