A story which is very much on my doorstep – three new bespoke benches have been installed as part of Rugby Rotary Club’s award-winning centenary project to upgrade a section of the Great Central Way.
Forming the latest part of the Railway Art Heritage Trail, the benches have been funded by The Rugby Group Benevolent Fund and designed by Cawston artist and former Rotarian, Eric Gaskell.
The bench design is in-keeping with the Great Central Way theme, incorporating trains, pedestrians and a cyclist as well as wildlife.
Rugby Rotary Club is working in conjunction with Rugby Borough Council (RBC) and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) to upgrade the section of the former railway line between Hillmorton Road and Abbey Street. The project recently received the Rotary Club of Great Britain and Ireland Environmental Award.
About the Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was opened in 1899 and ran from Marylebone Station, London to Sheffield via Rugby, Leicester and Nottingham. It operated both passenger services and a goods line and was built to the continental loading gauge. Sadly, the section of the line between Rugby and Aylesbury was closed in 1966 as part of the widespread and controversial Beeching Report, with the section from Rugby to Nottingham closing in 1969.
In 1970 RBC purchased 4.5 miles of the railway line comprising two sections, one extending from Onley Lane to Abbey Street and the other between the Oxford Canal and Newton. Twenty one years later Central Railway Ltd proposed to re-open the railway following completion of the Channel Tunnel rail link although these proposals were rejected twice by Parliament. Chiltern Railways had a long-term plan to re-open the railway between Aylesbury and Rugby (and later to Leicester) but in 2013 the company abandoned that proposal.
Further north in Leicestershire, The Great Central Railway (GCR) does still exist as a heritage railway, running for 8.25 miles between just north of Leicester and Loughborough. It is the UK’s only double track, main line heritage railway and the only place in the world where full size steam engines can be seen passing each other – just as it was when steam ruled the rails.
North of Loughborough, The Great Central Railway – Nottingham, has six miles of heritage railway running through the beautiful scenery of South Nottinghamshire and North-West Leicestershire.
The GCR is also working hard to connect two these surviving halves of the Great Central Railway to create an eighteen mile heritage main line, stretching across the East Midlands.
Without the resources to manage it along its full length, Rugby Borough Council handed over the lease to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust which now maintains the section south of Hillmorton Road. But they don’t have the resources to manage the northern section.
Plans also include interpretation boards, to be designed by local blacksmiths, in a style echoing the traditional British Rail signs and explaining the history of the Great Central Way.
Rugby Rotarian and GCW project leader Laurence Wilbraham, said:
“The installation of these benches is the second part of the Art Trail on the Great Central Way following the installation of the rail track last year.
“They reflect the past and present use of the line, the train going into the night (the past) and walkers, cyclists, trees and wildlife emerging into the daylight (the present). The Rotary Club of Rugby is delighted with these benches which I am sure will be of great benefit to users of the Way.”
Rugby Rotary Club is now more than halfway through its four-year project to enhance the southern section of the Great Central Way, including the removal of undergrowth and trees, improving the Sun Street Play Area, creating a wild play area, providing signage and, subject to community involvement, the provision of a community garden/orchard.
The first phase of the Art Trail, laying nearly 200ft of track, is now complete thanks to the donation of rails and sleepers by Network Rail – and the hard work of Rotary and WWT volunteers, as well as members of the public.
Laurence added:
“To mark our centenary, Rugby Rotary Club members wanted to do something that would raise both the profile of the club and of Rotary, would provide long term benefits for the people of Rugby and involve volunteering and young people as well as doing something environmental.
“This is the largest and longest project we’ve ever been involved in and so far the feedback we’ve been getting from everyone who uses the Way is extremely positive.”
John Brooks, trustee of the Rugby Group Benevolent Fund said:
“We were delighted to support this project with a donation of £5,900 for the provision of these excellent benches which will provide enjoyment to the local community.
“This community has a rich industrious past of which employees of the Rugby Group and their families played their part. Hopefully the benches, and indeed the project, will last for many years and provide a fitting reminder of our past, present and future lives and work.”
For further information about the Great Central Way project, Rugby Rotary Club or to volunteer, click HERE
The Landlocked Traveller 