The Friends of New Milton Station have unveiled a commemorative plaque honouring railway workers who gave their lives building the line between Brockenhurst and Bournemouth.

The event was held on Monday 30 March on Platform 1 at New Milton Station. Passengers and members of the local community were invited to gather for refreshments and enjoy musical accompaniment from local band The Hobos, who played a specially arranged version of ‘Navvy on the Line’, an old traditional song about the life of the navvies.

The word ‘navvy’ came from the ‘navigators’ who built the first navigation canals in the 18th century, at the very dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Railway navvies soon came to form a distinct group of their own, set apart by the special nature of their work. Learn more about the history of railway workers with the National Railway Museum here.

At the event, historian and chair of Milton Heritage Society Nick Saunders shared the history of the navvies, and South Western Railway chaplain Christopher Henley reflected on the impact that the nine men who died between 1885 and 1888, as well as their hard-working colleagues, had made on the town. Deputy Mayor of New Milton David Rice-Mundy had the honour of unveiling the plaque, which is situated by the front door entrance to the Station Master’s House for all to view.

Val Sargeson, secretary of the Friends of New Milton Station, said: “Noise and colour, music and trains and then silence for the blessing. I found this both magical and moving, over 100 people came together to remember the navvies. What a turnout and what an event!”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Friends of New Milton Station via their website.