Paulsgrove Halt
Encyclopedia
Paulsgrove Halt was a railway station opened in 1928 to serve the adjacent racecourse Paulsgrove Park--a pony racing stronghold. The racecourse, and station, lay in the Paulsgrove
district of Portsmouth
, southern England
; rather than the modern area now known as Wymering
. The station was located on the West Coastway Line
between Cosham
and Portchester
, and generated much income within the area.
The funding for the station along with the racecourse came from local businessman George Cooper, who lived at nearby Paulsgrove House and was a keen sports fan. The station was built in the style of a halt rather than a full station.
The station closed along with the racecourse when the land was acquired by the military in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II
; it was to be used as an ammunition dump. Since the end of WWII the area has been developed for housing and there have been a number of attempts made to open a station on the same site. Provision for a station has been included in the Local Development Plan of the City of Portsmouth for many years.
On the 26th October 2007, Portsmouth F.C.
announced plans to relocate to a new 36000 seat stadium on Horsea Island
, which is situated to the south of the former station site. As part of the stadium plans, they are drawing up an integrated transport policy which includes examining the feasibility of opening a station. South West Trains indicated on 29 October 2007, via an interview in the Portsmouth News, that the clubs' plan may generate sufficient business, even if the station was only opened on match days, for them to consider a further study should the club wish to proceed.
Paulsgrove
Paulsgrove is an area of northern Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Paulsgrove existed as a small hamlet on the old Portsmouth to Southampton road for many years. During the early twentieth century Paulsgrove Racecourse was built north of the village on the slopes of Portsdown Hill and a halt built...
district of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; rather than the modern area now known as Wymering
Wymering
Wymering is a residential area of the city of Portsmouth in the English county of Hampshire. Unlike the majority of Portsmouth, it is located on the mainland rather than Portsea Island....
. The station was located on the West Coastway Line
West Coastway Line
The West Coastway Line is a railway line in England, along the south coast of West Sussex and Hampshire, between Brighton and Southampton, plus the short branches to Littlehampton and Bognor Regis....
between Cosham
Cosham railway station
Cosham railway station serves the former village of Cosham, today a northern suburb of the city of Portsmouth in southern England.Opened in 1847 by the London and South Western Railway , it is located on the West Coastway Line which runs between Brighton and Southampton...
and Portchester
Portchester railway station
Portchester railway station is situated to the east of Fareham in Hampshire, England. It was first opened by the LSWR in 1848 on their line from Fareham to Portsmouth.- Services :...
, and generated much income within the area.
The funding for the station along with the racecourse came from local businessman George Cooper, who lived at nearby Paulsgrove House and was a keen sports fan. The station was built in the style of a halt rather than a full station.
The station closed along with the racecourse when the land was acquired by the military in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; it was to be used as an ammunition dump. Since the end of WWII the area has been developed for housing and there have been a number of attempts made to open a station on the same site. Provision for a station has been included in the Local Development Plan of the City of Portsmouth for many years.
On the 26th October 2007, Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
announced plans to relocate to a new 36000 seat stadium on Horsea Island
Horsea Island
Horsea Island was an island located off the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour; gradually subsumed by reclamation, it is now connected to the mainland...
, which is situated to the south of the former station site. As part of the stadium plans, they are drawing up an integrated transport policy which includes examining the feasibility of opening a station. South West Trains indicated on 29 October 2007, via an interview in the Portsmouth News, that the clubs' plan may generate sufficient business, even if the station was only opened on match days, for them to consider a further study should the club wish to proceed.