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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 MWB6077
Record Type Monument
Name Welford Sidings

Grid Reference SU 419 733
Map Sheet SU47SW
Parish Boxford, West Berkshire
Welford, West Berkshire
Map:Show location on Streetmap

Summary

Branch off the Lambourn Valley Railway constructed in the 1950s to give access to USAF Welford, then developing as a munitions store

Other Statuses and Cross-References

  • Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 05053.26.010

Monument Type(s):

  • RAILWAY SIDING (Mid 20th century to Late 20th century - 1954 AD to 1972 AD)

Full Description

A branch line to USAF Welford was constructed in 1953-4 and used for goods only until 1972 <4>. It is stated in a railway history that part of the line was later used to provide road access to the air base from the M4 motorway <5>, although the route of the former railway line is largely unchanged and can be seen in early 21st century aerial photographs as a cropmark and earthwork <6>.

Sources and further reading

<01>British Rail Western. 1973. Lambourn Valley Railway Scrapbook. [Monograph / SWB13540]
<02>Robertson, K & Simmonds, R. 1984. The Lambourn Branch. [Monograph / SWB14646]
<03>Mitchell, V & Smith, K. 2001. Branch Line to Lambourn. [Monograph / SWB14647]
<04>Price, M R C. 1977. The Lambourn Valley Railway. [Monograph / SWB148538]
<05>Simmonds, P. 2014. A history of the Berks and Hants line Reading to Westbury. p121. [Monograph / SWB148853]
<06>GeoInformation Group. 08/04/2003. West Berkshire Council Aerial Survey 2003 (digital aerial photographs). Aerial Photo. Digital. 1:7000. [Photograph / SWB146766]

Related Monuments

MWB6078Site of Welford Park Railway Station (Monument)
MWB6076BOXFORD STATION TO WELFORD STATION RAILWAY LINE (Monument)
MWB6024GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY - General record within West Berkshire (Monument)
MWB15916RAF Welford (Monument)

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

  • None recorded