Tibshelf Town railway station
Encyclopedia
Tibshelf Town railway station is a disused station in the village of Tibshelf
in Derbyshire
.
The station was opened on 2 January 1893 by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
(later part of the Great Central Railway
and subsequently the LNER), on its line from Beighton
in the outskirts of Sheffield
to Annesley
in Nottinghamshire
, which later became part of the Great Central main line
to London
. The station was optimistically designated Tibshelf Town, reflecting Tibshelf's aspirations to obtain official town status. Tibshelf never did become a town but the station kept this name throughout its operating life.
The line ran through a mainly industrial landscape dominated by mining. To the north of the station was a deep cutting where a tunnel was originally intended; fears of damage through mining subsidence forced the change in the plans. Tibshelf High Street crossed a bridge over this cutting.
To the south, the line crossed over the Midland Railway
's branch line from Westhouses & Blackwell (on the Erewash Valley Line
), to Mansfield Woodhouse
, just to the east of their own Tibshelf & Newton station. This line closed to passengers on 28 July 1930 but remained in use for freight and coal trains long afterwards; the route is now a footpath but Tibshelf & Newton station still stands.
Tibshelf Town station closed on 4 March 1963, the line itself on 5 September 1966. The collieries also closed around this time, although coal mining continued to be a major source of employment for the village, with around 2,000 of Tibshelf's inhabitants still working at local pits as late as the 1980s.
The route of the Great Central line was redeveloped by Derbyshire County Council in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and now forms part of the Five Pits Trail
network. These efforts received a Countryside Award in 1970, as indicated by a plaque at nearby Pilsley
where the next station northwards was sited. The trail runs approximately 12 miles, from Tibshelf to Grassmoor
Country Park, though with the filling in of cuttings and removal of embankments it is virtually unrecognisable as a former railway line. Similarly the collieries that had once been such conspicuous features of the landscape have vanished without trace. The area is now once again mostly rural in character.
Tibshelf
Tibshelf is a village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England. It is in the Bolsover district of the county. Its population at the 2001 UK census was 3,548....
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
.
The station was opened on 2 January 1893 by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was formed by amalgamation in 1847. The MS&LR changed its name to the Great Central Railway in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension.-Origin:...
(later part of the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
and subsequently the LNER), on its line from Beighton
Beighton
Beighton ward —which includes the districts of Beighton, Hackenthorpe, Owlthorpe, and Sothall—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the eastern part of the city, on the border with Rotherham and covers an area of 5.7 km2...
in the outskirts of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
to Annesley
Annesley
Annesley is a village and civil parish in the District of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, England, located between Hucknall and Kirkby-in-Ashfield. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,096. Nearby to the west is Annesley Woodhouse...
in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, which later became part of the Great Central main line
Great Central Main Line
The Great Central Main Line , also known as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , is a former railway line which opened in 1899 linking Sheffield with Marylebone Station in London via Nottingham and Leicester.The GCML was the last main line railway built in...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The station was optimistically designated Tibshelf Town, reflecting Tibshelf's aspirations to obtain official town status. Tibshelf never did become a town but the station kept this name throughout its operating life.
The line ran through a mainly industrial landscape dominated by mining. To the north of the station was a deep cutting where a tunnel was originally intended; fears of damage through mining subsidence forced the change in the plans. Tibshelf High Street crossed a bridge over this cutting.
To the south, the line crossed over the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
's branch line from Westhouses & Blackwell (on the Erewash Valley Line
Erewash Valley Line
The Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :...
), to Mansfield Woodhouse
Mansfield Woodhouse
Mansfield Woodhouse is a large village about 2 kilometres north of Mansfield itself, in Nottinghamshire, England. With a history dating back before the Romans, it is still noteworthy for its stone built town centre...
, just to the east of their own Tibshelf & Newton station. This line closed to passengers on 28 July 1930 but remained in use for freight and coal trains long afterwards; the route is now a footpath but Tibshelf & Newton station still stands.
Tibshelf Town station closed on 4 March 1963, the line itself on 5 September 1966. The collieries also closed around this time, although coal mining continued to be a major source of employment for the village, with around 2,000 of Tibshelf's inhabitants still working at local pits as late as the 1980s.
The route of the Great Central line was redeveloped by Derbyshire County Council in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and now forms part of the Five Pits Trail
Five Pits Trail
The Five Pits Trail is a rail trail in Derbyshire, England. It consists of a network of surfaced walkways for recreational use. The approximately long trail links Grassmoor to Tibshelf. The Trail can be extended to by continuing along the route to Williamthorpe Ponds and Holmewood...
network. These efforts received a Countryside Award in 1970, as indicated by a plaque at nearby Pilsley
Pilsley
Pilsley may refer to:*Pilsley, Derbyshire Dales*Pilsley, North East Derbyshire...
where the next station northwards was sited. The trail runs approximately 12 miles, from Tibshelf to Grassmoor
Grassmoor
Grassmoor is a village in Derbyshire, England, approximately three miles to the south of Chesterfield. Its original name, according to 16th-century parish records, was Gresmore. Grassmoor formally housed many miners, however all of the local mines in the area have been closed since the...
Country Park, though with the filling in of cuttings and removal of embankments it is virtually unrecognisable as a former railway line. Similarly the collieries that had once been such conspicuous features of the landscape have vanished without trace. The area is now once again mostly rural in character.