Brunswick Wharf

Last updated August 31, 2023

Brunswick Wharf was a railway goods yard in Buglawton, Congleton.^[1]^[2]

History

Brunswick Wharf was the terminus of the Biddulph Valley Line.^[4] Brunswick Wharf was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on 29 August 1860.^[4]

While using the Biddulph Valley Line for most the journey, goods trains heading to Brunswick Wharf would leave the Biddulph Valley Line at Congleton Lower Junction.^[5] Goods trains would then follow a line underneath the North Staffordshire mainline which was used to reach Brunswick Wharf and a goods and mineral yard at Congleton railway station.^[5]

Ever Saturday morning there was a sand train service from Brunswick Wharf to Warrington and St Helens.^[6] The sand that was taken from Brunswick Wharf was used in the Lancashire glass industry.^[6]

During the heyday of the Biddulph Valley Line the Robbert-heath owned Collieries operated private mineral trains between their various sites to and from Brunswick Wharf.^[7]

When trams were being built for Manchester and other local cities, metal was brought to Brunswick Wharf to be molded down into brake blocks for trams,^[8] once built the brake blocks would leave Brunswick Wharf to be used for tram building.^[8]

The decision to close Brunswick Wharf "baffled" the staff due to how busy and well used Brunswick Wharf was.^[9]

The last train left Brunswick Wharf on 1 April 1968 after which Brunswick Wharf closed.^[1]^[3]

With the closure of Brunswick Wharf sand had to be brought to Congleton via Congleton railway station and coal had to be brought to Congleton via Kidsgrove railway station.^[9]

Plans were drawn up by North Staffordshire Railway Society in the 1970s to reopen Brunswick Wharf as part of a planned heritage railway going from Brunswick Wharf to Bidulph Railway station via the Biddulph Valley Line.^[10] This plan was created in order preserve some of the Biddulph Valley Line.^[10] Due to lack of interest from Cheshire County Council and the general public this plan was abandoned.^[10]

Operation

Brunswick Wharf comprised 3 sidings called "Wharfs" operated by 3 different companies. These companies were:^[11]

Robbert Heath and Low Moor.^[11]
The Congleton and Industrial & Equitable Co-operative society.^[11]
H. Hargreaves & Co. Ltd, coal, coke and lime merchants.^[11]

Staff

Below is a list of staff who worked at Brunswick Wharf and their job titles and/or employer if known:

Harry Walton.^[11]
Mr Minshull. (Yard Forman)^[11]
John Butler.^[11]
Charles Yates.^[11]
Jack Holland.^[11]
Charlie Butler.^[8]
Frank Emery. (British Rail checker)^[9]
Fred Jackson. (British Rail loader)^[9]
Stan Woodward. (Co-op Yard Forman)^[9]
Joel Boon. (Gillow heath)^[9]
Jack Greenford.^[9]
Billy Smith.^[9]
Ralf Goodwin.^[9]
Bill Willett.^[9]
Will Shaw.^[9]

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References

1 2 3 "Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way". www.cheshireeast.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
↑ Alcock, Joan P. (30 June 2003). History & Guide Congleton. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 67. ISBN 0752429469.
1 2 Biddulph Valley Way Explorer including Dane-in-Shaw Pasture & Timbersbrook Picnic Area (PDF). Cheshire East Council. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
1 2 Jeuda, Basil (1 May 1996). THE KNOTTY An Illustrated Survey Of The North Staffordshire Railway. Lightmoor Press. p. 43. ISBN 1899889019.
1 2 Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 53. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.
1 2 Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 57. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.
↑ Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 54. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.
1 2 3 "THE LAST PAGE OF A CHAPTER And the man who has watched history made". Congleton Chronicle . 15 March 1968. p. Front page.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Wharf Closes". Congleton Chronicle . 15 March 1968. p. 10.
1 2 3 "Our History". www.nsrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jeuda, Basil (20 April 2014). The North Staffordshire Railway In The LMS Days Volume 3. Lydney: Lightmoor Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-1899889839.

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[BiddulphValleyLine-1] 1 2 3 "Activities and Information About the Biddulph Valley Way". www.cheshireeast.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2021.

[2] Alcock, Joan P. (30 June 2003). History & Guide Congleton. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 67. ISBN 0752429469.

[BrunswickWharf-3] 1 2 Biddulph Valley Way Explorer including Dane-in-Shaw Pasture & Timbersbrook Picnic Area (PDF). Cheshire East Council. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.

[THEKNOTTY-4] 1 2 Jeuda, Basil (1 May 1996). THE KNOTTY An Illustrated Survey Of The North Staffordshire Railway. Lightmoor Press. p. 43. ISBN 1899889019.

[Baker2000P53-5] 1 2 Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 53. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.

[Baker2000P57-6] 1 2 Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 57. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.

[7] Allan. C Baker. An Illustrated History of Stoke and North Staffordshire's Railways. Irwell Press. p. 54. ISBN 1-903266-11-4.

[WharfHistory-8] 1 2 3 "THE LAST PAGE OF A CHAPTER And the man who has watched history made". Congleton Chronicle . 15 March 1968. p. Front page.

[Wharfcloses-9] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Wharf Closes". Congleton Chronicle . 15 March 1968. p. 10.

[NSR-10] 1 2 3 "Our History". www.nsrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2022.

[LMSDays-11] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jeuda, Basil (20 April 2014). The North Staffordshire Railway In The LMS Days Volume 3. Lydney: Lightmoor Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-1899889839.

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