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Summary

A former railway carriage built in 1897 for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Train, relocated to its current position and used as a skittle alley from 1933 to 2014.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1318097: SKITTLE ALLEY 30 METRES SOUTH EAST OF YOULSTON PARK LODGES

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS53NE/4/7
• Old Listed Building Ref (II)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RAILWAY CARRIAGE (XIX - 1801 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Department of Environment, 1984, Shirwell, 27 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV338546.

Skittle alley 30m se of youlstone park lodes. Railway carriage presently used as a skittle alley. Dated 1897. The carriage is a remarkable survival. A 48 foot wheel base gwr corridor bogie carriage, now without bogies. Green painted timber coachwork on metal and timber frames with rounded beads and pattresses over panel joints.
See DoE listing description for full details.

English Heritage, 2014, Sherwill Skittle Alley, Sherwill Road, Sherwill (Correspondence). SDV357450.

English Heritage has received an application to remove the above building from the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. Assessment is underway.

Historic England, 2015, Former Shirwell Skittle Alley (Correspondence). SDV358929.

Historic England has been asked to assess the Shirwell skittle alley (formerly a railway carriage) to see
whether it should be removed from the List.
The Shirwell Skittle Club ceased using the former railway carriage in 2014 and there is no proposed futureuse. The applicant has submitted the application to de-list the structure as they are concerned that its disuse may result in vandalism and/or further deterioration. They hope to arrange for the railway carriage to be removed and conserved by a heritage railway but do not believe this would be possible if the building remains listed.
After examining all the records and other relevant information and having carefully considered the architectural and historic interest of this case, the criteria for listing are still fulfilled. The list entry for the former Skittle Alley at Shirwell, North Devon should be retained on the List at Grade II and the description amended.
Although new information has shown that the carriage is no longer considered a unique survival, it remains one the few known examples of carriage from this important royal train, has additional interest for its unusual non-domestic reuse.

English Heritage, 2015, Skittle Alley 30 Metres South-east of Youlston Park Lodges (Correspondence). SDV357930.

English Heritage have completed their initial assessment of the skittle alley 30 metres south-east of Youlston Park Lodges. A full inspection took place on 19th January 2015. See attached report.

Ordnance Survey, 2024, Mastermap 2024 (Cartographic). SDV365834.

Rectangular building shown.

Historic England, 2024, National Heritage List for England, 1318097 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365835.

Summary
A former railway carriage built in 1897 for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Train, relocated to its current position and used as a skittle alley from 1933 to 2014.
Reasons for Designation
The former Skittle Alley, Shirwell, Devon is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as a surviving railway carriage, later converted into a sports building, that formed part of the royal train built to celebrate the Diamond (60th) Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the first of only two British monarchs to reach this landmark anniversary; * Architectural interest: several original internal features survive that denote the importance of this late-C19 carriage, including the richly-decorated coffered ceiling and timber panelling; * Degree of intactness: both phases of use, as a railway carriage and skittle alley, are legible within the surviving fabric; * Rarity: as one of four listed re-used railway carriages and the only one to have been converted for non-domestic use.
See listing description for full details.
Date first listed: 16th November 1984. Date of most recent amendment: 6th August 2015

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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