Important aspects of railway history and heritage have been celebrated at a special event marking the 110th anniversary of Holton Heath Station.
Holton Heath Station, located between remote heathland and farmland, opened on 3 April 1916 to serve the adjacent cordite factory, built for the Royal Navy and used extensively during World War One. This was instigated by Winston Churchill, who was First Lord of the Admiralty at that time. The station opened to the general public from 14 July 1924.
On 21 April, Purbeck Community Rail Partnership (CRP) gathered people together for the event, part of the national Railway 200 celebrations. The event included a history talk on the opening of the Royal Naval Cordite Factory, cutting of a celebratory cake and the unveiling of blue plaque to mark the opening of the station.
There was also a presentation of prizes to winners of a poster competition for pupils of Sandford St Martin’s Primary School by Cllr Stella Jones MBE, chair of Dorset Council. For those feeling energetic, a guided tour of the ‘Cordite Way’ was on offer, as part of the CRP’s aims to see more active travel connected with the railways.
The event was supported by South Western Railway, Dorset Council, Wareham St Martin Parish Council, Sandford St Martin’s Primary School, Poole Harbour Trails, Sandford Heritage Group, Swanage Railway Trust, Jade-Aden and Community Rail Network.
Keep up to date with future news, projects, and events from Purbeck CRP via their website.
Learn more about South Western Railway’s work in the community here.
