page updated
22 March 2016

These pages are inspired by the Friends of Malvern Railways, a special interest group of Malvern Civic Society.

The various locations can be viewed on a current OS Map. The map centres on Leigh Court. Feel free to scroll around and change the scale.

Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway

Date Event Source
6th November 1859 Notice of application by the Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway to incorporate a company and make a railway from Bransford to Leominster.
View Notice
London Gazette, 23rd November, pages 4525-4527.
1st August 1861 Royal assent given to Worcester, Bromyard and Leominster Railway Act 1861 authorising the making of the railway and entering into a contract with the West Midland Railway for the working of the railway.
View Act
Note: Gale gives date as 11th August.
Act of Parliament.
13th February 1862 West Midland Railway Board resolved to subscribe £5,000 to the Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway. The shares to be in the names of N Fenton, N Lewis and J S Pakington who would thus represent the Company as Directors of the Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway. TNA
Rail 734/1.
Royal assent given to Worcester, Bromyard and Leominster Railway Act 1864
by August 1864 Construction of Bransford Road to Yearsett section commenced. IRS.
28th June 1866 Royal assent given to Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway Act 1866 authorising extension of time to complete purchases of land, also issue of preference shares.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
30th July 1874 Royal assent given to Leominster & Bromyard Railway Act 1874 authorising incorporation of a company and construction of a railway from Leominster to Bromyard.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
2nd May 1874 Bromyard Junction to Knightwick opened. Worked and maintained by the Great Western Railway. Gale.
22nd July 1878 Royal assent given to Great Western Railway Act 1878 authorising the Great Western Railway to subscribe towards the Capital and Debenture Debt of the Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
22nd August 1881 Royal assent given to Great Western Railway Act 1881 authorising the Great Western Railway to subscribe towards the Capital and Debenture Debt of the Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway.
View Act
Act of Parliament.

Great Western Railway

Date Event Source
1st July 1888 Leominster & Bromyard and Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railways vested in Great Western Railway. Act of Parliament.
13th August 1888 Royal assent given to Great Western Railway Act 1888 authorising purchase of Leominster & Bromyard Railway and Worcester, Bromyard & Leominster Railway by the Great Western Railway and requiring the line to be completed to Leominster.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
5th August 1891 Royal assent given to Great Western Railway Act 1891 revived powers to complete the railway.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
6th July 1895 Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1897 authorising changes at Steen's Bridge.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
6th August 1897 Royal assent given to Great Western Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1897 authorising in retrospect constuction of part of the line that went beyond the authorised limits of deviation within the parises of Bredenbury and Avenbury.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
5th August 1914 Government took control of Great Western Railway and Midland Railway (from midnight 4th-5th August) using powers contained in the Regulation of Forces Act 1871. Warren.
16th August 1921 Government control of Great Western Railway and Midland Railway relinquished from midnight 15th-16th August. Warren.
19th August 1921 Royal assent given to Railways Act 1921 which ordered the grouping of principle railway companies into four Groups.
View Act
Act of Parliament.
September 1929 Instructions for Signalling Trains during Fog or Falling Snow states that Leigh Court distant signals are not fogsignalled. GWR Booklet.
24th August 1939 Royal assent given to Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 which authorised under regulation 69 Government taking control of railways subject to ministerial order. Warren.
1st September 1939 Ministerial order 1197 brought railways under Government control.
(Note – this remained in force until 31st December 1947).
Warren.
1944 John Lisseman appointed Porter at Leigh Court. Malvern Voices (2).
6th August 1947 Royal assent given to Transport Act 1947 which authorised creation of the British Transport Commission and nationalisation of the railways.
View Act
Act of Parliament.

British Railways

Date Event Source
1st January 1948 Great Western Railway became British Railways Western Region. Warren.
7th September 1964 Bromyard Branch closed. Cooke.