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The West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER) is the primary index of the physical remains of past human activity in the unitary authority of West Berkshire Council. Limited elements of the West Berkshire HER are available online via the Heritage Gateway, therefore it is not suitable for use in desk-based studies associated with development, planning and land-use changes, and does not meet the requirements of paragraph 194 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2021: 56). Please read the important guidance on the use of the West Berkshire HER data. For these purposes and all other commercial enquiries, please contact the Archaeology team and complete our online HER enquiry form.



HER Number MWB6065
Record Type Monument
Name KINTBURY TO HUNGERFORD STATION RAILWAY LINE

Grid Reference SU 363 678
Map Sheet SU36NE
Parish Hungerford, West Berkshire
Kintbury, West Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

Section of Great Western Railway branch line, still in operation in 21st century

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

  • Conservation Area: Kintbury

Other Statuses and Cross-References

  • Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 05053.20.000
  • National Monuments Record No.: LINEAR 892

Monument Type(s):

  • RAILWAY (Victorian to Late 19th century - 1847 AD to 1900 AD)

Full Description

Hungerford station was built originally as the terminus of the Berks and Hants Railway, a Great Western Railway (GWR) branch line connecting Hungerford and Newbury to Reading, in 1847. It was subsequently converted to a through station after the opening of the Berks and Hants Extension Railway in 1862 <3>.

The GWR was constructed on the broad gauge principle; its rails were seven feet instead of four feet nine inches apart. The first idea of the line arose from a meeting in Bristol in 1833, and an Act of Parliament was passed in 1835. Due to the 'great and ludicrously violent opposition it met with from landholders', the cost of purchasing land and the construction costs meant that the railway cost upwards of six millions sterling, independently of the rolling stock <6>.

Sources and further reading

<01>Mitchell, V & Smith, K. 2001. Newbury to Westbury. Nos 27-33. [Monograph / SWB146883]
<02>Allen, J. 2001. The Berks and Hants Line - Theale to Bedwyn (including Hungerford). [Monograph / SWB147298]
<03>Simmonds, P. 2014. A history of the Berks and Hants line Reading to Westbury. [Monograph / SWB148853]
<04>Border Archaeology. 2016. Archaeological Impact Assessment for Skinner's Lock (Kintbury) Railway Bridge. BA1652(1531)BLBK. WBC Network. https://doi.org/10.5284/1056217. [Unpublished document / SWB149611]
https://doi.org/10.5284/1056217 (Accessed on 16/09/2019)
<05>Border Archaeology. 2016. Archaeological Desk Based Asssessment, Version 2: Skinner's Lock (Kintbury) Railway Bridge. BA1531BLKB. WBC Network. https://doi.org/10.5284/1056217. [Unpublished document / SWB149612]
<06>Measom, G. 1852 (1985). The Illustrated Guide to the Great Western Railway 1852. [Monograph / SWB146708]

Related Monuments

MWB20276Accommodation railway bridge on Hungerford Common (Monument)
MWB21934Bridge west of Kintbury - NEEDS EDITING (Monument)
MWB20245Church Street overbridge, Kintbury (Monument)
MWB6066Hungerford Station (GWR) (Monument)
MWB20249Kennet & Avon Canal railway bridge east of Kintbury (Monument)
MWB20233Kintbury level crossing (Monument)
MWB20250Railway bridge near Wire Lock (Monument)
MWB20251Road overbridge near Dun Mill Lock (Monument)
MWB22737Site of a railway turntable, Hungerford railway station (Monument)
MWB22739Site of a weighbridge, Hungerford railway station (Monument)
MWB22740Site of a weighing machine, Hungerford railway station (Monument)
MWB22741Site of cattle pens, Hungerford railway station (Monument)
MWB22742Site of cattle pens, Hungerford railway station (Monument)
MWB20248Site of level crossing near Brunsdon Lock (Monument)
MWB20247Site of level crossing near Orchard Meadow Bridge (Monument)
MWB20246Site of stream bridge west of Kintbury (Monument)
MWB20244Stream bridge west of Kintbury (Monument)
MWB6024GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY - General record within West Berkshire (Monument)

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

EWB1635Archaeological Standing Building Recording Survey - Skinners Lock Railway Underbridge, Kintbury (Ref: BA1730SLRB)
EWB1694Desk Based Assessment and Archaeological Impact Assessment of Skinner's Lock Railway Bridge, Kintbury