Latest news with #RailwayHeritageTrust
BBC News
03-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
World War One plaque unveiled at Wolverhampton railway station
A World War One memorial commemorating more than 60 rail workers who died has been restored at Wolverhampton railway plaque lists people who worked in the goods department of the London & Northwestern Railway (LNWR) in the Wolverhampton district and died in the Midlands Railway (WMR), which restored the memorial at the station, attended the unveiling on Friday, along with members of the Royal British Legion and city mayor Linda was originally erected at the station and thought to have been later moved to the passenger footbridge in the 1950s or 1960s, but had now now been reinstalled on the concourse, WMR said. A minute's silence to remember the lives lost was held on plaque lists staff who carried out a range of roles, including goods porters, clerks, loaders and of birth for those remembered included Walsall, Darlaston, Wolverhampton, Pedmore, Willenhall, West Bromwich, Redditch and Brownhills. Some are buried in local cemeteries, while others are also commemorated at memorial sites in France and Belgium. WMR said it worked with the Railway Heritage Trust to commission architectural signage company Lewis Howes to bring the inscription "back to pristine condition and create a bespoke hardwood frame as a backing". Head of property at WMR Robert Goode said: "It's possible that relations of these LNWR staff members are still living in Wolverhampton today. "To any who want to reach out to us, we'd be happy to host you at the station to see the plaque in person."Railway Heritage Trust director Tim Hedley-Jones said: "We are very pleased to have worked with West Midlands Railway to provide a grant to support restoration of this war memorial. "It is a fitting reminder of the sacrifice local people and railway workers made in World War One." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Skylights installed to brighten railway platform
Skylights have been added to a railway platform to brighten the station and "improve customer experience". A joint project, which was funded by Avanti West Coast, Network Rail and Railway Heritage Trust, installed 27 skylights on platform one at Coventry railway station. The changes, which cost £600,000, are part of ongoing improvement work after the station underwent an £82m transformation in 2022. Dean Duthie from Avanti West Coast said: "The work has made a remarkable difference where customers will see a more vibrant look and feel from the natural light streaming through the new skylights." The previous skylights, which dated back to the 1960s, were at the end of their lifespan and extremely dirty as they could not be maintained, said a train company spokesperson. New signage was also added throughout the station, and LED lighting was installed alongside the skylights in order to reduce the station's energy consumption, they added. Councillor Naeem Akhtar from the city council said the improvements helped to "enhance the station's architectural heritage" and continued to meet "modern-day needs". "The new skylights and signage absolutely strike that balance, helping to improve the customer experience while preserving the unique character of the station," added Akhtar. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Rail system's first route could be to airport zone New £82m railway station opens to passengers Avanti West Coast Network Rail Railway Heritage Trust Coventry City Council
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Skylights installed at Coventry railway to brighten platform
Skylights have been added to a railway platform to brighten the station and "improve customer experience". A joint project, which was funded by Avanti West Coast, Network Rail and Railway Heritage Trust, installed 27 skylights on platform one at Coventry railway station. The changes, which cost £600,000, are part of ongoing improvement work after the station underwent an £82m transformation in Duthie from Avanti West Coast said: "The work has made a remarkable difference where customers will see a more vibrant look and feel from the natural light streaming through the new skylights." The previous skylights, which dated back to the 1960s, were at the end of their lifespan and extremely dirty as they could not be maintained, said a train company spokesperson. New signage was also added throughout the station, and LED lighting was installed alongside the skylights in order to reduce the station's energy consumption, they added. Councillor Naeem Akhtar from the city council said the improvements helped to "enhance the station's architectural heritage" and continued to meet "modern-day needs"."The new skylights and signage absolutely strike that balance, helping to improve the customer experience while preserving the unique character of the station," added Akhtar. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Listed summer houses' restoration nears completion
The renovation and restoration of three 19th Century summer houses in Coventry is expected to be completed by the spring, the city council says. The Grade II listed buildings are within the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden at Stoney Road Allotments in Cheylesmore. Having fallen into disrepair, the summer houses are the last remaining plots of the Park Gardens, established 200 years ago. The site is one of only four remaining detached Victorian town gardens that are listed on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Historic England provided a £250,000 grant for the restoration of the buildings. Councillor Naeem Akhtar, cabinet member with responsibility for heritage, said: "It's wonderful to see the work that is being done and I am really looking forward to returning once the restoration is completed. "We are really grateful to Historic England for their generous support. We also value the support of the Railway Heritage Trust and Network Rail. "There has been a lot of interest in this project, and it highlights the value we have for a wide range of heritage buildings in the city." The site is still actively used as allotments and sub-tenanted by the Stoney Road Gardens Association (SRGA). Louise Brennan, Historic England's regional director for the Midlands, said: "It is amazing to see the original features of the gardens restored. "The Heritage at Risk funding has meant that three of the grade II listed Summerhouses have received complete repairs to the building structures, including replacement roofs, new windows and doors, reconstruction of walls with lime mortar and original bricks, timber frame restoration, and other internal repairs. "And it's brilliant that it's all been achieved using traditional methods and materials, restoring the summerhouses to their original form." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Restoration to start on 19th Century summer houses Coventry City Council
BBC News
08-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Restoration of Coventry's listed summer houses nears completion
The renovation and restoration of three 19th Century summer houses in Coventry is expected to be completed by the spring, the city council Grade II listed buildings are within the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden at Stoney Road Allotments in fallen into disrepair, the summer houses are the last remaining plots of the Park Gardens, established 200 years site is one of only four remaining detached Victorian town gardens that are listed on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Historic England provided a £250,000 grant for the restoration of the buildings. Councillor Naeem Akhtar, cabinet member with responsibility for heritage, said: "It's wonderful to see the work that is being done and I am really looking forward to returning once the restoration is completed."We are really grateful to Historic England for their generous support. We also value the support of the Railway Heritage Trust and Network Rail."There has been a lot of interest in this project, and it highlights the value we have for a wide range of heritage buildings in the city."The site is still actively used as allotments and sub-tenanted by the Stoney Road Gardens Association (SRGA).Louise Brennan, Historic England's regional director for the Midlands, said: "It is amazing to see the original features of the gardens restored."The Heritage at Risk funding has meant that three of the grade II listed Summerhouses have received complete repairs to the building structures, including replacement roofs, new windows and doors, reconstruction of walls with lime mortar and original bricks, timber frame restoration, and other internal repairs."And it's brilliant that it's all been achieved using traditional methods and materials, restoring the summerhouses to their original form." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
