Building record 2528/1/1 - Handforth Railway Station - Manchester and Birmingham Railway

<1> Ashmore, O, 1982, The Industrial Archaeology of North West England, p.21-23 (Book). SCH3181.

Manchester to Birmingham Railway, opened 1842.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8583, 1872-1876 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts the station. Both the northbound (down) and southbound (up) platforms are located between the Station Road road bridge and the footbridge between Church Road and Old Road. The northbound platform is accessed from Station Road via a sloping path, the southbound by steps from Station Road or from the station building off Old Road. Both platforms have platform shelters

To the south of the road bridge, north-west of the down line is a possible signal box. To the south-west is a short passing loop for the down line.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8583, 1897-1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

To the north-east of the footbridge, to the east of the up line is a goods yard comprising a siding, a crane and a weighing machine. The passing loop to the south-west of the possible signal box has been replaced by a long siding.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8583, 1909 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

The south bound (up) platform has been extended to the south-west of the Station Road road bridge. A sloping path on the south-western side of the bridge has replaced the steps on the opposite side. The signal box is labelled as such. A second long siding has been added to the south-west and the cutting has been widened to accommodate it. A new access has also been provided from Wilmslow Road to the west.

<5> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, RAF 106G UK 622, 10/08/1945 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

As previously depicted. The south bound platform is predominantly located to the south-west of the Station Road road bridge, the north bound to the north-east.

<6> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, HSL UK 71 164 Run 40 no.0364 & 0365, 25/08/1971 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

A new station building has been constructed above the tracks to the immediate south-west Station Road road bridge. The northbound platform has been relocated to this side of the bridge.

<7> Friends of Handforth Railway Station, 2009-2023, Friends of Handforth Railway Station (Web Site). SCH9396.

New station building built in 1960. Gallery includes pictures of the railway station in 1949, 1954, 1962, 1990, 1975 and 2005. The goods yard appears disused on the earlier photographs.

<8> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 24/04/2023 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The original station building was damaged by fire in the 1980s and subsequently demolished.

<9> Archaeological Research Services (Sale), 2023, Archaeological Watching Brief: Willow Bank House, Handforth, Cheshire, R4756 (Client Report). SCH9590.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2023 at Willow Bank House, Handforth, which lies immediately to the east of the site of the former Handforth Railway Station. A drain, part of a wall and possible step were observed, they probably relate to the station buildings as shown on historic maps.