Middleton Towers was the first stop on the Lynn and Dereham railway in Norfolk, which closed to passenger services in 1968. It is the only remaining station on the line that still has a rail connection, which is used by a local sand freight company.
The Middleton Towers Restoration Group are a group of over 500 members who, in July 2021, came together to campaign for the restoration of the derelict station waiting room and ticket office buildings, which have been in a sad state since the closure of the line, receiving only minor cosmetic touches over the years. They are campaigning Network Rail to obtain permission to fully restore the site, to be used as a public tearoom and a railway museum.
The Restoration Journey
- Founding the Group: Alex Brammer established the Middleton Towers Restoration Group in July 2021 with a clear mission—to restore the former railway station site for the benefit of the local community.
- Current Status: The group comprises over 500 railway enthusiasts, engineers, and tradespeople who share the vision of revitalizing this historic site.
- Challenges and Ambitions:
- The former ticket office and platform access room urgently need repair. These buildings are owned by Network Rail.
- The station house, however, is in good condition and is privately owned by Sibelco.
- Discussions with Network Rail are ongoing to obtain permission for renovating their portion of the site.
- The group’s consensus is that the restored site should function as a public tea room and a museum dedicated to the Lynn and Dereham railway.
- But the ambitions extend beyond restoration—there’s a desire to campaign for the reinstatement of a passenger service, at least as far as Middleton Towers or East Winch. This could alleviate road congestion and benefit local residents.
- The group aims to prevent hasty decisions by central or local government that might lead to development or the removal of railway lines, as regretfully happened in the 1960s.
Alex Brammer, founder and director of the Middleton Towers Restoration Group, met up with Paul Young, project officer for the Norfolk Orbital Railway on site recently, to talk through the latest progress.
You can listen to the interview here:
For more details on Middleton Towers restoration Group, along with contact details and how you can help, here is a link to their website: https://www.middletontowers.org.uk/contact-us.html#/