Bowes Railway Station, Teesdale, May 2015

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HughieD

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This is the third and final report that documents the ex-Penrith to Darlington line. This time we focus on the demise of the station at Bowes, 4 miles west of Barnard Castle. This has been well-documented in photographs over the years as you will see below. It’s fair to say that now the former single-story station and station master’s house is fast approaching a pile of rubble. Situated on the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway between Barnard Castle and Kirkby Stephen East, it served the village of Bowes from 26th March 1861 until its closure 22nd January 1962. Even three years after its closure (in 1965) the buildings looked in a sorry way (photo by Ben Brooksbank):

bowes(ben_brooksbank5.1965)25.jpg


Ten year’s later in 1975 the roof was starting to go (photo by John Buckley):

bowes(john_buckley6.1975)28.jpg


By 1987 its days were numbered (photo by Keith Ward):

bowes(keith_ward1987)26.jpg


Today the up platform survives, albeit in very poor condition, while the main station building and stationmaster's house are total ruins. One of the two goods sheds still stands on the opposite platform but is also a roofless shell with trees growing out of it and a large farm building now stands across the track at the east end of the station. Two sets of stone steps up to the station from the road below do however also still remain.

Often when railways close it is the station houses that survive as family homes. Sadly this didn’t happen with Bowes Station. Who knows why, as it would have made a delightful residence, along similar lines of what happened up the line at Lartington.

Perhaps, then, no surprise it is in the state it is today. Anyhow – here’s the current state of Bowes station:

One of the two sets of steps up to the station:

17589523054_b022b91e3a_b.jpgimg9418 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The ‘up’ platform and station:

17591599293_8a2174fc1e_b.jpgimg9434 by HughieDW, on Flickr

One of the two goods sheds remains:

18212077245_238189d237_b.jpgimg9419 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The station is in very poor condition:

18024294140_fe41e1ccc0_b.jpgimg9420 by HughieDW, on Flickr

In its prime it was a stylish building:

18185491996_ebe7cb290a_b.jpgimg9422 by HughieDW, on Flickr

But time is now nearly up:

18208247622_787fbd4e1a_b.jpgimg9423 by HughieDW, on Flickr

…as the walls crumble and window-frames tumble:

18213054771_1e044ced3c_b.jpgimg9426 by HughieDW, on Flickr

17591191273_c55bb524f8_b.jpgimg9427 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The fine mullioned stone windows at the front make one last stand of defiance:

18023893948_a59073a92a_b.jpgimg9428 by HughieDW, on Flickr

18025438349_5a400431fa_b.jpgimg9432 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And the fireplace stands firm for the moment:

17589090514_164016e53f_b.jpgimg9430 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!
 
Such a sorry state, like you say it's curious as to why it wasn't made into a home, there must be a story there somewhere. Thank you again, I've really enjoyed your trip along this line.
 
Thanks very much for posting, I have driven past here so mamy times and never had the opportunity to stop and have a look.
I think it has the look of a Tudor era ruin from the outside.
 

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