LATEST NEWS
2023 RAILWAY CALENDAR
Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust has launched their 2023 calendar featuring images from Shropshire’s railway history of stunning steam locomotives.
The calendar is on sale priced £5 from Abbey Station (open Saturdays 10.30am to 2.30pm); from Claremont News, Shrewsbury or The Prince of Wales, Shrewsbury. It can also be ordered for £7.50 (this includes £2.50p postage and packing) by sending your remittance and details to SRHT, Abbey Station, 192A Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AH.
Philip Davies, Chairman of the Trust said: “The calendar is a limited edition and features some fabulous full-colour images by local photographers of steam locomotives in Shropshire. People can treat themselves, a friend or relative to an attractive calendar brim-full of nostalgia!
Background Information
The Abbey Station project has involved the restoration and conversion of a 19th century derelict building, to create a Visitor Centre which will tell the story of the original railway on the site – The Potteries & North Wales Railway, and The Shropshire & Montgomery Railway- and is still developing as a useful community facility.
The repair and restoration of the actual Abbey Station building – which began in 2009 has been achieved. It was started by Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council; and completed by Board Members’ involvement and the enthusiasm of SRHT members with Shropshire Council (and the lease transferred). SRHT has kindly received Grants from Shrewsbury Town Council in 2017, 2018 and 2020, and this has enabled projects for installing heating, toilet facilities and exterior display panels to be competed. Local Councillor Grants have also been provided by Councillor Hannah Fraser. We are currently in the process of asking STC for additional financial assistance, with the aim of creating and installing new INTERIOR display panels inside Abbey Station. The Trust has also received much support and assistance by the 140 members over many years.
We continue to receive unsolicited donations from members, which is well-received and heart-warming. A few years ago we installed new seating; courtesy of the County of Salop Steam Engine Society (the organisation that runs Shrewsbury Steam Rally) and ‘state of the art’ heaters that are cost-efficient, and environmentally-friendly. They enable the building to be ideal for community use, and of course eventually we will be able to develop its’ role in telling the story of its railway history. It is a base for guided railway/industrial heritage walks; talks, and art exhibitions. Primarily the building is for the benefit of the local community by providing a meeting place for a variety of local community groups. The Visitor Centre is managed by a group of voluntary Board Members and is registered as a charitable trust. Charity Number 1116296. Communications to the above address please.
Abbey Station is available for use by Community Groups and Social Organisations. A set of Covid-19 Rules have been created for all users of Abbey Station, and these must be followed together with Government Regulations. They are on display (together with our Health & Safety document, together with our Fire and Insurance Certificates.
PLEASE NOTE – IMPORTANT
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No part of any SRHT publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, without the prior written consent of Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust. Whilst every care is made to ensure accuracy in compiling this or any other publication (in paper format or online) Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust does not accept liability for errors, printing or otherwise, appearing. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.
Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, quality, fitness for purpose or safety of any information appearing in this publication (or online edition/communication) or any goods, products, services or activities advertised or mentioned in it, and shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage (whether immediate or consequential and including (but not limited to) loss of profit and economic loss) arising from actions taken or decisions made in reliance upon such information or from the purchase or use of such goods, products or services or from participation in such activities.
Some of the images used editorially have been provided and will be copyright-protected. . No liability can be accepted for illustrations, photographs, artwork, images or advertising materials while in transit or transmission, to Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust or with their publisher or their agents. Anyone providing such materials are advised to retain adequate copies for their use in the event of such loss. Communications in the first instance to: www.shrewsburyrailwayheritagetrust.com
The Aims of the Trust
Our primary purpose is to provide a community facility, but then also to enable the general public to understand, appreciate and enjoy the railway heritage of Shrewsbury, its region and adjacent areas. Its railway-related aims include:
- Raising awareness of the railway heritage of Shrewsbury and the region.
- Advancing education about our railway heritage through exhibitions and presentation events, heritage walks, newsletters, and meetings.
- Identifying, displaying and interpreting relevant railway material.
- Collecting, documenting, conserving and using, as appropriate, evidence of our railway heritage. Many items are stored at present in Shropshire Archives.
- Supporting the preservation and interpretation of historic buildings and structures associated with our railway heritage.
- Inviting people to become members of the Trust and to help us to achieve these aims and to appreciate and enjoy our rich railway heritage. Encouraging visitors to discover our local history.
We welcome you to join us in developing our important community asset, and to preserve and promote Shrewsbury’s rich railway past.
Frank Sarre with the new Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust’s information leaflet.
SHREWSBURY TOWN COUNCIL GRANT FOR ABBEY STATION – SHREWSBURY RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST
Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust received a Community Grant of £2000 from Shrewsbury Town Council, and this has been used for the purchase and installation of the 5 heaters for the Abbey Station building.
David Morris, Board Member for SRHT said: “We are really pleased to receive a generous grant of £2000 for Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust. The Trustees would like to place on record their appreciation for this tremendous support, which has made the building more warm and will greatly assist with its role as a Community Facility. We also have future plans to install signage, and to consider purchasing audio-visual equipment to further develop use of Abbey Station by local organisations especially heritage societies We want to upgrade the interpretation of the building’s history, so that people can understand the significance of the railway’s contribution to the development of public transport, and rail transport in Shrewsbury. So a big ‘Thank you’ to Shrewsbury Town Council for this splendid financial assistance, which is most appreciated”.
Councillor Jane Mackenzie, Mayor of Shrewsbury said: “On my recent visit to Abbey Station I was impressed with the work that had been completed by volunteers over many years, and with the ongoing dedication that they have to further develop the building for community use. Shrewsbury Town Council has been proud to support this valuable project”
Shrewsbury Town Council awards grants to local organisations to assist them to achieve their aims and objectives. The Council has a policy of only assisting truly local community groups, this is interpreted to mean those organisations based in the Shrewsbury Town Council area, or national bodies, with an independent branch in the same area, providing support to the residents of the Parish of Shrewsbury. …ends.. Image Caption: Councillor Jane Mackenzie, Mayor of Shrewsbury with David Morris, Board Member of Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust. …Ends final… Editor’s contacts: SRHT DIRECTORS-. David Morris: 01743 232651 Philip Davies: 01743 3593
- Who are we and what do we do?
The Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust was established as a charity in July 2003 to:
- raise public awareness of the railway heritage of Shrewsbury and its region;
- advance the education of the public about the railway heritage of Shrewsbury and its region through lectures, publications and other means;
- collect, document, conserve and interpret material evidence of the railway heritage of Shrewsbury and its region for the public benefit;
- establish and maintain a museum for the care, display and interpretation of material evidence of the railway heritage of Shrewsbury and its region for the public benefit;
- support the preservation and interpretation of historic buildings and other structures associated with the railway heritage of Shrewsbury and its region for the public benefit.
The Trust is managed by an elected group of Directors who form a Committee that meets on a monthly basis to oversee the work of the Trust.
Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust is a Registered Charity ( Charity Number 1116296 ) set up under The Companies Act 1985 and 1989 as a ‘Company Limited by Guarantee and not having A Share Capital’ (Company Number 4847614).
A ‘ NEWSLETTER ‘ is produced four times a year and distributed free to members . The newsletter can be purchased by non- members for £1.00 plus postage.
Entrance to the Abbey Station in Colonel Stephens era in 1911.
Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust 