Woodhall Spa | |
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![]() The site of Woodhall Spa station in 2020, the buildings to the right are shops that once backed onto the station on the parade. | |
General information | |
Location | Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire England |
Platforms | 1 |
Other information | |
Status | Disused |
History | |
Original company | Horncastle Railway |
Pre-grouping | Great Northern Railway |
Post-grouping | LNER |
Key dates | |
11 August 1855 | opened |
13 September 1954 | closed (passenger) |
27 April 1964 | closed for freight |
Woodhall Spa railway station was a station in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire on a small branch line running north from Woodhall Junction to Horncastle. Both the station and the line are now closed. [1]
In 1846 the Great Northern rail company purchased the land to build a 58 miles (93 km) rail link from Peterborough to Lincoln via Spalding and Boston with the Boston to Lincoln section being built along the banks of the River Witham. Works commenced in 1847 and the line opened on 17 October 1848. [2] The Kirkstead Station, later to be renamed the Woodhall Junction, was one of seven between Lincoln and Boston. To the north were Stixwould, Southrey and Bardney and to the south were Tattershall, Dogdyke and Langrick.
In 1853 three local businessmen negotiated with the G.N.R. with a view to open a branch of the line, the Horncastle Branch, from the Woodhall Junction to Horncastle. They formed the Horncastle and Kirkstead Junction Railway Company, [3] and the line was opened on 11 August 1855 [4] and transported the gentry into the heart of Woodhall where they could easily get to the hotels and public attractions. The line also provided a better means of transport for goods being transported to and from Horncastle than the River Bain. [2]
The line closed for passengers from 13 September 1954 [4] but freight traffic continued along the line until 6 April 1971 and demolition came soon after. [2]
After the track was removed the land was sold off to various land owners, mostly local farmers, but some has been used to recently create a paved walk and cycle path, called The Water Rail Way, from Kirkstead to Lincoln. As of summer 2009 the path is complete and open for public use. [5]
The course of the Horncastle Branch to Horncastle has also been turned into a bridleway, The Spa Trail, [6] allowing for a safe journey to Horncastle that is used by 15,000 people a year. It is a section on the Viking Way.
Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Woodhall Junction | Great Northern Railway Horncastle Railway | Horncastle |
Horncastle is a market town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district in Lincolnshire, England. It is 17 miles (27 km) east of Lincoln. Its population was 6,815 at the 2011 census and estimated at 7,123 in 2019. A section of the ancient Roman walls remains.
East Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. Its council is based in Horncastle and the largest town is Skegness. Other towns include Alford, Burgh le Marsh, Coningsby, Louth, Mablethorpe, Spilsby, Sutton on Sea, Wainfleet All Saints, Wragby and Woodhall Spa. The district also covers a large rural area, including many smaller settlements.
The Horncastle Canal was a broad canal which ran 11 miles (18 km) from the River Witham to Horncastle in Lincolnshire, England, through twelve locks largely following the course of the River Bain. The canal opened in 1802, and was abandoned for navigation in 1889.
Lincolnshire is a large county in England with a sparse population distribution, which leads to problems funding all sorts of transport. The transport history is long and varied, with much of the road network still based on the Roman model, and the once extensive rail network a shadow of its former self.
The Grantham–Skegness line, promoted originally as the Poacher Line, runs for 55 miles (89 km) between Grantham and Skegness in Lincolnshire, England. Trains on this route generally operate hourly from Nottingham to Skegness via the Nottingham to Grantham Line, with additional slower stopping services at peak times. The line is operated by East Midlands Railway, using Class 170 Turbostar and Class 158 Express Sprinter diesel multiple units.
The Peterborough–Lincoln line is a railway line linking Peterborough and Lincoln, via Sleaford and Spalding. Between Lincoln and Spalding, the line follows the route of the former Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway.
Woodhall Spa is a former spa town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England, on the southern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, 6 miles (10 km) south-west of Horncastle, 23 miles (37 km) west of Skegness, 15 miles (24 km) east-south-east of Lincoln and 17 miles (27 km) north-west of Boston. It is noted for its mineral springs, historic cinema and its Second World War association with the RAF 617 Squadron, commonly referred to as 'The Dambusters'.
Boston railway station serves the town of Boston in Lincolnshire, England. It is a stop on the Poacher Line, which connects Grantham with Skegness. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway, who provide all rail services.
Kirkstead is a village and former civil parish now in the parish of Woodhall Spa, in the East Lindsey district, in Lincolnshire, England, on the River Witham. In 1961 the parish had a population of 85. It was merged with the civil parish of Woodhall Spa in 1987.
Woodhall Junction railway station is a former station in Woodhall, Lincolnshire. It served as a junction where several different lines met, none of which are still open.
Horncastle railway station was a station in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England. It was at the end of a short branch line that ran from Woodhall Junction which opened on 11 August 1855. Like many fairly rural stations it was eventually shut as the rail network was cut back, with passenger service withdrawn from 13 September 1954 and goods and freight terminating on 5 April 1971.
New Bolingbroke railway station was a station which served the village of New Bolingbroke in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. The station was on the Kirkstead and Little Steeping Railway which ran between Lincoln and Firsby. The branch line was sometimes called the "New Line". The station and line opened in 1913 and closed in 1970. The site is now occupied by a reclaimers and antiques yard.
Little Steeping was a railway station on the East Lincolnshire Railway which served the hamlet of Little Steeping in Lincolnshire between 1848 and 1964. It became a junction station in June 1913 when the Kirkstead and Little Steeping Railway was opened to provide a more direct route to Skegness for East Midlands holidaymakers. Withdrawal of passenger services took place in 1961, followed by goods facilities in 1964. The line through the station remains in use as the Poacher Line, although the Kirkstead and Little Steeping Railway closed throughout on 5 October 1970.
Wragby railway station was a railway station that served the town of Wragby, Lincolnshire, England between 1874 and 1960, on the Louth to Bardney line.
The Kirkstead and Little Steeping Railway, locally known as the New Line, was a railway line in England built to shorten the route between Lincoln and Firsby in Lincolnshire, England.
The Louth to Bardney Line was an English railway line built by the Louth and Lincoln Railway Company, in Lincolnshire, England. It opened in stages between 1874 and 1876, after serious difficulties in raising subscription capital, and following alteration to the planned route. It was hoped to serve large reserves of ironstone along its route, but the deposits were not as large as hoped, and the line was never financially successful.
The Lincolnshire loop line was a railway built by the Great Northern Railway, that linked Peterborough to Gainsborough via Spalding, Boston and Lincoln. It ran through the counties of Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
The Horncastle and Kirkstead Junction Railway was a seven mile long single track branch railway line in Lincolnshire, England, that ran from Horncastle to Woodhall Junction on the Great Northern Railway (GNR) line between Boston and Lincoln. There was one intermediate station, Woodhall Spa.
Stixwould is a small village in the civil parish of Stixwould and Woodhall, in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.
Martin Dales is a hamlet in the civil parish of Martin in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, England. It is located to the east of Martin and west of Woodhall Spa.