A wonderful little You-Tube film created in 2023 of an imaginary journey on the train from Redditch - Harvington Railway Station - Evesham. The film depicts a train passing through a landscape of then (1890) and now (2023), which highlights development and the loss of farmland.

The Midland Railway Company were extending their Birmingham to Redditch line, southwards to Ashchurch near Tewkesbury, and completing the Redditch to Evesham section, they ran their first train through Harvington on 4th May 1868. The line's opening must have been a very special event and attracted villagers to the brand new railway line, bridge and last but not least, station. The Station Master was an important man, especially so for a village like Harvington, where much important trade took place between Harvington and the outside world such as Birmingham - market produce, hops and malt; bread, flour and pin production from the mill. To cater for all this activity, Harvington Station also had a small goods yard and sidings which enabled produce to be loaded. The central figure in all of this was the Station Master.

The ten-yearly census returns have been invaluable in giving us a window into the world of Harvington's station masters and their support team such as signalmen, porters, platelayers etc. - all working for the Midland Railway Company. A number of plate layers etc. are mentioned in the records but they have not been listed here.

The first mention of a station master at present found is in 1871 when Station House is occupied by Daniel Stapp, Station Master, his wife Amelia and family. Mr Stapp was born in Fishlake, Yorkshire aged 25 and his wife was born in Ashchurch, she was aged 22.

In 1877 John Brown was Station Master - recorded by Midland Railway Study Centre.

In 1881 the Station Master was still John Brown, born Marston Bygott, Somerset aged 44. He was living in Station House with his sister Frances and a friend.

In 1883 Mr Brown was Station Master - recorded by Midland Railway Study Centre.

In 1885/7 Mr Morton was Station Master - recorded by Midland Railway Study Centre.

In 1888/9 Mr Wallis was Station Master - recorded by Midland Railway Study Centre.

By 1891 Edwin Birkenshaw was the Station Master. He was born in Little Eaton, Derbyshire 12th Sep 1863. He and his wife Mary Ann (Annie) lived in Station House for many years. Edwin was Station Master until 1924 and must have been a well-known figure in the village.

It is tempting to think that one of these two railway officials is Edwin Birkenshaw.

In 1911, neither Station House nor Edwin Birkenshaw is mentioned. This is because the Birkenshaw family were visiting Little Eaton, Edwin's birthplace. There was however a Station Master for the Midland Railway mentioned, but he staying as a boarder at Cotswold View. He was Joseph Robinson, born Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire aged 49 and was probably a relief Station Master. A Midland Railway Porter by the name of George Purser, born Ilmington in Warwickshire aged 33, was also staying as a boarder on Cress Hill.

a couple of postcards date from 1910, a postcard of the signal box and a postcard of the station. Steve Cook is the baby in the pram.
Again, is the gentleman on the steps Edwin Birkenshaw?
Note the flower arrangements on the signal-boxes - is this Annie's work?

In 1921, Station House was still occupied by Edwin Birkenshaw and his wife Annie. A retired railway booking clerk was living with a family on Cress Hill, whose name was Charles Bunn, born Honeybourne, Warwickshire aged 61.

Mr Birkenshaw is still Station Master in 1924 in which year he probably retired as in 1925 the Birkenshaws were living in Evesham. By 1929 however they had moved back to Harvington and were living in 2 Bredon Grounds. Annie passed away in 1935 aged 68 and Edwin passed away on 11th February 1940 aged 76. They are both buried in our burial ground and have a memorial.

Their son, who grew up in Harvington, Laurence Edwin Birkenshall, was born in Worthington, Leicestershire 1889. He became a railway clerk for the Midland Railway and in 1911 was living as a visitor in Moreton Morrell near Kings Norton, Warwickshire. In 1921 he married Mildred Emily and had a son Leslie Laurence aged 7. They were living at 291 Foodhouse Lane, Stirchley, Worcestershire.

Another postcard of the same period. Note the sidings and rail goods carriages - note again the pride in looking after
what is a country station. The date of the second postcard is not known but has to be later.

In 1938 our station master Mr Albert George Samuel Bamford. A newspaper article in 1938 gives further information: "appointed stationmaster and goods agent at Harvington and Salford Priors Stations, In 1838 Mr Bamford was succeeded by Mr. G.W.C. Smith, of Lord's Bridge (Cambridge), . . . "in succession to Mr Albert G. S. Bamford, who has recently retired. Mr Bamford commenced his career as a gateman at Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, in 1895, and was later promoted signalman at Cheltenham. He had been at Cheltenham barely three years when he was appointed as a relief signalman at Gloucester. In 1905 he moved to Ashchurch and in 1913 he was transferred as a relief signalman to Saltley Junction, where he remained for ten years before being promoted stationmaster at Coughton. He moved to Salford in 1929 and a year later, on taking over charge of Harvington Station as well, he went to live at Harvington. Mr Bamford, who married at Cheltenham in 1897, has two sons and a daughter. One son is now stationmaster at Draycott, near Derby. Mr A.G.S. Bamford will be leaving Harvington shortly to live once again at Stonehouse. His friends in Harvington and Salford will join with us in wishing Mr. and Mrs. Bamford many years of happy retirement." Mr Bamford was born Wirral in 1874, his wife was called Annie and he died in 1956.

In 1938 George W.C. Smith of Lord's Bridge (Cambridge) became Station Master. He was born 12th Jan 1901 and his wife Doris K was born 20th Jan 1900. He may have been our WW2 Station Master.

In Sep 1948 a new Station Master commenced his duties. He was "Mr [Edwin] Gorin and before his appointment at Harvington was relief signalman at Bristol. He was a native of Gloucester and had worked for the railway for nineteen years. Mr Gorin, like many others, is inconvenienced by the housing shortage and is looking forward to the day when his wife and family can join him in Harvington." - Newspaper article.

In 1953 there was an obituary to Sidney Charles Ashmead, signalman at Harvington Station of 3 Hopkiln Cottages.

In 1955 a newspaper article records a third prize to Mr Gorin for the best-kept station. At this time Mr Gorin was also Station Master of Salford Priors.

Decay and destruction

Everyone knows of the Beeching cuts, officially known as "The Reshaping of British Railways". For Harvington Station and its railway this was the end. Marjorie Bailey writes that "When the railway was closed in 1962 for a very short while a railway bus called in the morning at all stations to Redditch. The Station House was unsuccessfully offered for sale and suffered badly at the hands of vandals. In 1968 the now derelict station was purchased by David Hutchings, Manager of the Upper Avon Trust, and converted it to use as both a home and headquarters for the Trust.

Evesham Journal article dated 21st April 1988.

A new beginning.

The bridge had been spared demolition and was purchased in 1968 by David Hutchings. Once the restoration of the Avon navigation had been completed, David decided to sell Station House and took the unusual step of building a home under the arch of the old bridge!

Photograph taken before 2000.

David died in 2005 and is buried in Harvington Burial Ground, his headstone reads: "David Hutchings, Architect Engineer, Navigator, born 18th March 1927, died 23rd April 2005".