WOODFORD HALSE TO CHARWELTON FOOTPATH
(4th October 2018) (Update April 2019)

From my experience walking from Charwelton to Woodford Halse on the -- Sept. 2018, I learned from my mistake
after getting blocked at them footbridge south of the water trough site and having to walk back to Charwelton.
The problem was the lack of a signpost by the Footbridge that made it look as if you couldn't continue south wards
via the Footpath Charwelton at losing pace

Once you have walked from Woodford to the footbridge you now know that you can walk the whole way in reverse,
from Charwelton to Woodford Halse. It just needed to be made more clear once you arrive at the footbridge.

Here are the photos taken between Woodford Halse and up to the Footbridge and the site of the Water Troughs.

(Google Earth)

This shows the track bed leading down from the over bridge to Grant Hill Way and passing the site of the massive  Woodford Goods Yard that was
built for WW2 traffic. The yard was formed from the spill from digging out Gatesby Tunnel. Top right shows the footbridge where I turned back
due to the  Jurassic way not being fully shown at ground level and going through the fields towards Woodford Halse. Lower part of image shows
the site of Woodford Halse Locomotive depot, which is now a large industrial estate. I believe the only railway building left is by the entrance at
Byfield Road that was the Gas & Lighting works. I'm sure someone will point this out if I am wrong!

My walk began from where I got off the bus by Grant Hill Way and the signpost for the Jurassic footpath. It is also where the railway bridge crossed
the Byfield Road between the north end of the lower goods yard and passing the loco depot, northwards.

By the bus stop on Byfield Road. Phipps Road to the right. The lady and the Dog are where the over bridge crossed the main road.
The lower goods yard was to the left and the loco depot to the right. There is a footpath  through the Ex Goods Yard from the
 station site up to the enrance just out of sight at the far right. It was almost a short tunnel as the bridge was at least six tracks wide.

This photo is the reverse position of the one above. No housing development along the byfield Road but Phipps Road
turns off to the left just ahead of the bridge. You can see the width and that numerous tracks headed northwards
over the bridge.

 
Rather low res but this map of Woodford station & the goods sidings shows the numerous tracks that
crossed the Byfield Road bridge (Far right). Interesting too is that it shows the river Cherwel running
below the southern end of the goods sidings. (Author unknown).

Closer view from above photo. The new road up on the left goes into the Ex Locomotive Depot site which, is now an
industrial estate..

 
Left: The north end of the lower Goods yard where the over bridge has been removed. Right: The north side of Byfield Road where the  over bridge stood.
The mainline ran northwards past the Loco Depot and work shop buildings.

 
The old entrance into the Loco depot site now named Great Central Way. The building on the right may be the old Gas & Lighting works. If so, they are the only
remaining building left of the Loco Depot site.

From here I began my walk northwards on the Jurassic Way footbridge where the Charwelton Water Troughs began. I was interested in finding out where I made the error
on my last visit where I had to turn back to Charwelton.

New housing and a new street at the north perameter of Grant Hill Way.

   
New road off Grant Hill Way, which is now the entrance to the Ex Loco Depot site.The loco stood at this site.

Woodford Loco Depot from around the same spot as the photo above. The pohtographer was probably standing in
what is  the Horse Box Seller's yard today. (Author Unknown).

This was the area at the south end of the Loco Depot. Looking eastwards across the scene.

 
The northern perameter of depot. The turning triangle was at the far side of these buildings.

 
Left: Looking southwards along the Jurassic Way towards Woodford Halse. Right, What looks like a converted barn.

 
Training area for the Esquarian.

 
As you pass the north end of the loco depot site there is a gate leading onto private land.This may have been a secondary path too and from the depot.

  
Left: Looking back down the footpath to the gate by the equestrian.                                                        Right: From the same spot looking northwards.

      
On the Footpath (Jurssic Way) just north of the loco depot site. Left: On the right is the start of the large Goods Yard site. Now just a large
ploughed field. Right: The reverse view from a little way further up the path.

Northwards towards the private farm. A way is gated just ahead. However you can continue on the other side and keeping to the
far right side of the field, onwards. Charwelton Lodge is behind the trees on the left.

   
Passing Charwelton Lodge The Jurassic Way is defined by a narrow strip of mowed grass down the right perameter of the field.

CHARWELTON BRICK WORKS
.

Remains of a house or works building with the remains of the Goods sidings behind. Near the north end of the goods yard.
The path led over to the Clay Pit to the north of the brick works..

On the west side of the Jurassic Way, by the track bed was the Charwelton Brick Works that had it's own small wagon tramway. The tramway was
linked to the main line at the south end and ran  northwards to a small clay quarry. It may be that this road lead to the Brick works. There was a
bridge over the mainline but from the Google Earth image it no longer exists.

Here is how it shows in an NLS 1888 to 1930 map

This map shows the area half way between Woodford Loco Depot and the the Jurassic Way footbridge where I was heading to.
This map pre-dates the period before the WW2 Goods sidings were built.

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There was another 3-Arched farm access bridge extending over the full width of the main line just north of the Loco Depot that I was unable to find any information about
I have seen a photo of the area taken from No 2 sinal box, looking north just after the line closure and it didn't shw any ridge at that point.  Below, I found an old B&W
photo taken of the sidings by the ExWagon Works building shoing that it was quite an extensive 3-4 arched brick built bridge. With thanks to Albert Fennal of the
Woodford Halse web pages for explaining that it was merely a farm access bridge and that it was removed when the new goods yard was constructed. .
 

From NLS maps. It shows where the bridge had crossed the main line.

From the carriage sheds the 3-4 arched farm access bridge to the north of the
loco depot. This photo had been taken pior to the construction of the new
sidings, which was around 1942. (Author unknown).

Correction: I mistook this access bridge for the one by the Brick works. There was another farm access bridge between the north end of the loco
depot and the access bridge by the brick works. I still need to find a photo of this latter bridge.

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Update 22nd February 2019 (New Page)

Another visit to the Woodford Halse area while the overgrowth was at it's lowest. Walking the area of the WW2 Goods Sidings, past the siteof the Ex Brick Works
and to the Clay Pit site. Due to the amount of new photos I have made this a page on it's own. Link below and you can link back to this page or got back to
the Index page.

Woodford Halse Goods Sidings & Brick Works (2019) WoodfordHalseGoodsSidings&BrickWorks(2019).htm

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REMAINS OF THE VAST WW2 GOODS YARD. (From the footpath)

View from Google Earth. Shows the length and width of the goods
sidings. From the site of Woodford Depot, at the bottom, to the
footbridge near Charwelton. The Jurassic Way runs to the left.

 
The yard was very long and many tracks wide, on each side of the mainline. The darker ground indicates the actual yard area. The mainline approximately followed
the present day line of the elctricity poles.The track bed was on a low embankment, which has been levelled.

Looking westwards across the full width of the Goods sidings. The footpath over bridge near the brick works would have been seen
from here. The works being within the grassy clump on the right.

  
The sidings were built in 1942 for the war effort. Even if the railway had remained open the goods yard would probably have been
closed as the work it was built for ended. The sidings could handle up to 3,000 wagons per day. We are looking at the western
side of the sidings. The mainline ran off to the center of the field and through the gap between the wood, behind the large tree in
front of it. That is the area all the way up to the footbridge that is completely unwalkable. The tall water tank for the sidings
is  behind the to the right but hiden by the trees.

You next come up to another gated way, taking the path up a steep hill over the field ahead.

At the summit the path drops down to another  gate. It is held closed by a piece of rope. You must lock the gate
using the rope after use as Sheep are grazing in the field.

   
Left: Dropping down to the gate. The ground rises once again for a way before it drops once again as you approach the Footbridge over the railway track bed.
Right: The mown grassy strip climbs up over a ridge.

 
Left: Dropping down past the field that I decided not to go through on my last visit. Right: The path drops down to the base of the footbridge that is within the trees
ahead. Right: To the right is the path across the field that takes you back onto the track bed at the extreme right via an Ex farm crossing gate just south of the Footbridge.

The BT Tower at Hellidon is seen from the top of the footpath.

 
Left: The field on the left where I would have ended up had I tried to get onto the Jurassic Way last time. This is on the JW leading up to the footbridge which is
within the trees. This is also where you take the way to the right to get back onto the track bed on the south side of the over bridge.
 Right: The tree lined way up to the footbridge. The path continues on to Church Charwelton village.

 
Left: The west side approaching the bridge.                                                                               Right: Towards Church Charwelton.

 
Towards  Woodford Halse via the Jurassic Way. 

View from the footbridge towards Charwelton. The south end of the water troughs as they headed towards Charwelton.

The view Southwards from the footbridge. As I found out, you can walk a short way but have to return as it becomes blocked
by the heavy undergrowth.

  
Left: Towards Charwelton.                                                                          Right: Towards Woodford Halse.

JurassicWay Footbridge towards Charwelton. (22nd of February 2019).

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5. Woodford Halse Goods Sidings & Brick Works (2019)

Back To Index

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Video Links

A short video around Woodford Halse area.
https://vimeo.com/19416219

Video of Woodford Halse and the West Junction curve. The video concludes with scenes at Nottingham Victoria
and the north end of Sherwood tunnel and Basford Central station.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2nEt_zxjdQ

Byfield, Woodford Halse and West Junction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8RnJ1O3y8I

Eydon Road, Chacombe Haslt, Culworth Junction and Woodford Halse station in the dying days.
(Good quality film).
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-rails-into-ghost-town-1966-online

8mm cine film by the late Cyrl Thomas (Didcot). Woodford Halse to Hayford.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylbxwDzq9e8&feature=share

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Other railway walks:

The Dundee & Newtyle Rlwy Walks  Opened in 1831 the route had three incline planes. The first was from the terminal station on Ward Street, up the Dundee Law,
where there was also a tunnel. The second was the Balbeuchley incline at Rosemill and the third at Hatton that ran down to Newtyle station. It was also the very first
passenger train service in Scotland. Worked by Horse over the levels until the first steam engine was purchased in 1833. Came under the Caladonian Railway with
it's terminal moved to Dundee West station. Passengers service ended in 1952 and the line totally closed in the mid 60's. The inclines were by-passed in the 1860's.

The Cromford & High Peak Incline railway in Derbyshire has been luckier in having much of it's buildings, including an Engine House preserved. This
is what could have happened with the D&N, indeed, should have happened with at least one of the D&N inclines. However, the C&H gives an excellent comparison
of what the D&N would have looked like, albeit the inclines were only single track.

Boddam To Ellon Branch (Walks)   By Bill Reid. Ex GNSR branch line

Dyce To Fraserburgh and Peterhead Walks. Ex GNSR  

Bath To Wellow Rlwy Walks Ex Somerset & Dorset Rlwy.

Chippenham To Caln Walk.

Contact: reidcrcwdr@talktalk.net

Hosted by www.theatreorgans.com

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