 FRIENDS OFHEBDEN BRIDGE STATION |
FRIENDS OFHEBDEN BRIDGE STATION |
This group was formed in November 2018. They will soon have a new email address.
The grade II listed signal box in Hebden Bridge, empty and unloved for the past seven years, is to have a new lease of life under community control.
Calder Valley Community Land Trust, the member-led local charity which has been negotiating the signal box's future with Network Rail since its closure in 2018, has confirmed that the final legal agreements have now been signed. The Community Land Trust will now be able to progress with its ambitious plans to convert the first floor of the building into a heritage centre, with the ground floor turned into quirky holiday accommodation. The Trust will also be able to finally access heritage grants, awarded several years ago and since then awaiting completion of the leasehold transfer of the signal box from Network Rail.
Hebden Bridge signal box has been a familiar sight in the town for more than 125 years and is of considerable historical importance. Originally constructed by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company, the signal box still possesses the original L&Y signal lever frame. It was decommissioned in 2018 when the signalling on the Calder Valley line was modernised and, before the intervention of the Community Land Trust, was at risk of being boarded up permanently. Under the Trust's proposals the original signal levers will be employed again, this time for a computer-based simulation to enable visitors to safely 'signal' virtual trains through Hebden Bridge station.
Karin Lowson, Trustee of Calder Valley Community Land Trust who has been leading the project, said: 'It's been a very slow and sometimes painful journey over recent years to ensure that the signal box is saved for the community, but we're delighted to have finally got there. There's been very strong community support to ensure that this important building isn't allowed to rot away. We're grateful to all those who have kept faith in the project despite all the delays we've encountered. But now it's definitely a green light for go.'
Calder Valley Community Land Trust is a charitable community interest company established in 2014, which is the custodian of the heritage Fielden Hall community centre in Todmorden. The Trust also has a strong track record in building and restoring energy efficient social housing locally, which it rents to those in housing need.
The Trust will shortly be announcing a first 'open day' for those interested in seeing the signal box in its current decommissioned state. Other events will follow, and a grand opening of the box after building work and renovation is scheduled for 2026. When completed the box will include overnight holiday accommodation for two adults, which the Trust says should appeal both to railway enthusiasts and those wanting to visit the attractive South Pennines tourist destination of Hebden Bridge.
More information: Karin Lowson: 07795 411907.
More information about Calder Valley Community Land Trust
This old 2018 leaflet (with an old email address) explained how we hoped to save our signal box when it was closed down. Saving our signal box.
The new signalling system along the Calder Valley meant that the signal box at Hebden Bridge was redundant. On the night of Friday 19th October, Paul Kenny, signalman, worked the last shift in the box accompanied by local operations manager, Derek King, and some of the Friends of Hebden Bridge Station. He demonstrated the LMS loud-hailer once used to communicate with the station, pushed the button which still rang a bell in the station and regaled everyone with tales of the railway cats, night traffic and nocturnal hedgehogs. It was his last shift before retiring as well as the last use of the signal box, so a presentation was made to Paul by Derek King.
The last bell-code was sent to Halifax, 7.5.5, which is normally only used when the trains stop for Christmas Day, the last entries were made on the computer system and in the Train Register Book; a final phone call to Preston and it was time to lock up and go home. Photos taken at the final shift can be found on Craig Shaw's website
Film Archive of Railway Signalling and People (FARSAP) have produced two short films, including one about the last shift at our signal box. They can be viewed on their website.
In 2012, Friends of Hebden Bridge Station supported the proposed listing providing information to English Heritage. The listing can be found at Hebden Bridge Signal Box
BBC report on Hebden Bridge Signal Box
Thanks to Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society for the following article.
Hebden Bridge Signal Box
The sidings at the east end of the up platform and also the water tower can be seen in this old photograph. (Photo courtesy of LYRS)
 credit LYRS for web.png)
The signal box in 2006 (Photo courtesy of David Taylor)