Monument record 15289/25 - Lawton Station - North Staffordshire Railway, Sandbach Branch

<1> Quick, M, 2009, Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain: A Chronology, p.204 (Book). SCH9299.

The station opened in 1893.

<2> Jeuda B, 2012, The North Staffordshire Railway in LMS Days: Volume 2, p.334 (Book). SCH9047.

The short 6.5 mile line from Lawton Junction to Ettiley Heath was opened as a goods traffic only line in 1852 and extended to join the London and North Western Railway at Sandbach in 1866. The passenger service was withdrawn by the railway’s then operator, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, from the 28th July 1930.

<3> Christiansen, R & Miller, R W, 1971, The North Staffordshire Railway, p.209, 304, 306 (Book). SCH9046.

The construction of the North Staffordshire Railway’s Sandbach branch was facilitated by the North Staffordshire Railway (Harecastle and Sandbach) Act 1846. Construction was authorised to begin on the 26th June 1846, with goods services beginning on the 21st January 1852. However, passenger services didn’t begin until the 3rd July 1893. Following the closure of the line for passenger services in 1930, the station remained open for the handling of parcels traffic until 1947 when the station closed completely. Freight traffic continued over the line until 1964 and the line was finally closed and lifted in 1971.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8055, 1875-1891 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts the station building on the south-western side of the railway tracks adjacent to the road bridge for Crewe Road. No further features associated with a station are depicted.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8055, 1898-1899 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

This map depicts the station building, labelled as a signal box. The station is served by two tracks with an island platform between the two tracks. A building located on the platform is probably a platform shelter. Two signals are located to the south-east of the station, one adjacent to the signal box and one to the north-east beyond the new level crossing (see CHER 15289/24).

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8055, 1909 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

The station is as previously depicted. A goods yard, with associated weighing machine, goods shed and siding have been constructed on the eastern side of the line on the opposite side of the level crossing to the station.

<7> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 24/11/2022 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The former station house for Lawton station. Rendered with exposed brick plinth on north-eastern side. Highly ornate timber barge boards similar to those on the station house at Hassall Green (see CHER 15289/12). Tall decorative red brick chimney. Tile roof with decorative bands of curved tiles creating a scalloped effect. Timber faced jettied upper floor on south-west corner.

A photograph (photographer unknown) believed to date from the 1950s shows the signal box opposite the station house adjacent to the level crossing and the row of houses on Crewe Road. The signal box is a timber upper storey with large windows creating three continuously glazed sides and a brick lower storey. The latter has two small arched windows facing the trackside. The upper storey is accessed from a set of timber stairs which lead to a wooden porch which overhangs the lower storey. The pitched roof has decorative finials on the gable end where there is a name plate recording Lawton. A similar examples survived until recently at the crossings on Drumber Lane, Mow Cop (described as a North Staffordshire Railway Company type 2 design) and at Radway Green Road, Radway Green.

<8> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, 106G UK 1459 (02/04/1946) or 106G UK 645 (11/08/1945) (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

<9> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, HSL UK 73 55, Run 37, no.1130, 15/05/1973 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The buildings associated with the goods yard and station have been demolished with the exception of the station building.