Local fun activities to help enjoy your Dorset stay part IIII

Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Shillingstone Station

The station is open 10am to 4pm Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays. Free entry to station, Cafe, Model Railway, Garden and lots to enjoy.

Shillingstone Station was built by the Dorset Central Railway and opened on Monday 31st August 1863. Closed on Sunday 6th March 1966, it is now the last surviving station built by that railway company and it is therefore of great importance, both historically and architecturally, that these remarkable buildings are preserved.

On 13th August 2003, after three years and two months of correspondence and negotiation, Dorset County Council finally agreed to grant a lease of Shillingstone Station to The North Dorset Railway Trust. From 1st November 2003 the Trust embarked on what would become a lengthy and undoubtedly expensive restoration programme. From the outset, It was the Trust's intention to restore the Station to how it would have appeared in the early to mid 1950s.

The main station buildings, which include a parcels office and porters' hut, are situated on the up platform whilst the longer down platform had a small but attractive wooden shelter. The station was maintained with great pride by the S&D staff who tended a beautiful garden with greenhouse which supplied summer decoration for the site. With the ancient hill fort, Hambledon Hill, looking down upon the scene and the tranquil River Stour meandering by in the foreground, Shillingstone was arguably the most picturesque station on the entire S&D route .

Cafe, Model Railway, Garden and lots to enjoy.