Malmesbury, River Avon And Railway From Abbey Roof c.1955

Photo ref: M13023

More about this scene

We are overlooking the Old Bell gardens and looking towards the river Avon and the Malmesbury Branch Railway. During the mid 19th century, proposals were put forward to build a railway line to connect the town with the south of England. The Wiltshire & Gloucestershire Railway Company put forward a bill to undertake the work, which was finally sanctioned on 21 June 1864. There were also negotiations between the W & GR, the GWR, and the Midland Railway. Progress was hindered by the hostile attitude between the GWR and the Midland Railway, but eventually a ceremony to cut the first sod of the W & GR was performed on 1 July 1865 by the Countess of Suffolk and Berkshire, using the silver-mounted ceremonial wheelbarrow which is now in the Athelstan Museum. Problems between the various railway companies were not resolved for a further few years, and the W & GR ceased to exist in 1871. Finally a branch line from the GWR line at Dauntsey to Malmesbury was opened in December 1877, linking the town to Paddington; the station was built east of the town. A spur was also built at Little Somerford, connecting the Malmesbury branch line to Bristol and South Wales. The railway was finally closed in November 1962 and dismantled in 1963.