Wingfield Station (Grade II*) in South Wingfield, Derbyshire, is the only surviving original station on the North Midland Railway line between Derby and Leeds. The line was constructed between 1836 and 1840, forming part of the first boom in railway investment. It was envisaged and surveyed by George Stephenson working with assistant engineer, Frederick Swanwick, and later bringing on board his son, Robert Stephenson, who became joint and eventually sole chief engineer on the project.
Robert Stephenson commissioned Francis Thompson to design a sequence of picturesque station buildings, including Wingfield, which dates from 1840.
Whist the Station is not the earliest pioneer railway station to survive, it is one of the least altered surviving examples worldwide. Its poor condition gives a false impression of its rarity and the degree of evidence of original fabric; it is of exceptional importance. The original floor plan is complete and there has been minimal alteration and no extension.
Wingfield wasn’t significantly altered after it closed in 1967 and this has provided much information about its appearance, despite its condition.
The Station has suffered from a high degree of neglect and has not been in active use for over 50 years. In April 1971 Derbyshire County Council served a Building Preservation Notice on the building, whilst still owned by British Rail. In 1979 the freehold was sold to a private individual and from that point onwards, the condition deteriorated.
In March 2017 Amber Valley Borough Council eventually served an Compulsory Purchase Order, which was approved in December 2019 and Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT) took ownership of the site. Established in 1974, DHBT has been responsible for the rescue of many historic buildings throughout the county. DHBT is a non-profit registered charity that is committed to the heritage of Derbyshire and it relies entirely on generating its own income through grants, membership fees, commercial activities and donations.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, work was able to commence at Wingfield in October 2021. This will complete in May 2022 and focuses solely on the urgent repairs and works to the trackside elevation, which require close liaison with Network Rail.
However, DHBT now need to raise £250,000 to complete the £1.7m project and ensure a sustainable future for the Station as offices benefitting local enterprise.
The fundraising initiative has two strands; a Friends of Wingfield Station scheme, which starts at £1.50/month and a corporate and individual sponsorship programme. For companies and individuals wishing to support this amazing project, and their involvement be recognised, a number of sponsorship levels have been created (started at £500). Please visit the DHBT’s website to find out more – any donation would be very welcome to support the charity in achieving their ambition.
