Memories rekindled of original Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth train link (From Bournemouth Echo)

Memories rekindled of original Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth train link

10:22am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

A RARE photograph of the exterior of the original Christchurch Station near Barrack Road is featured in an exhibition showing 50-plus pictures of the former Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway.

Construction work on the line, the first to reach Bournemouth, began in 1862.

It closed in 1935 after decades of terminal decline following the opening of the current main line from Brockenhurst to Christchurch via Sway in 1888.

Since then, “the line has largely been forgotten by many as most of the tracks disappeared under developments at Ashley, Avon Castle and the Spur Road”, says Bournemouth historian John Hawkins.

He has assembled a collection of pictures that cover the service provided by the stations at Ringwood, Avon Lodge Halt, Hurn, Christchurch and Bournemouth East.

Brief histories, maps and documents about the original negotiations and each station are included in the exhibition in Ringwood Meeting House, in Meeting House Lane.

The display is the central panel of Mr Hawkins’ Across the Water exhibition, featuring Avon Castle and the surrounding locality, currently on show there.

The railway feature will remain in place for the foreseeable future, but may eventually be taken down and replaced.

However, it will remain as an accessible file in the building, said Mr Hawkins.

In fact, he can make available his more detailed papers, associated documents, transcriptions of incidents and entire collection of photos for those who wish to study the line in greater depth.

Also available are his researches into Charles Castleman, the solicitor behind the Castleman’s Corkscrew line, who brought the Southampton & Dorchester Railway to Ringwood in 1847.

The Across the Water exhibition will be displayed until late spring. Opening hours are 10am to noon, Monday to Saturday, with an extension until 2.30pm on Wednesday market days.