Arksey and the Railway

Arksey Station in 1893

Waiting For A Train

It might surprise some people to learn that Arksey once had a railway station. The fact that it is now completely eradicated could account for this. What isn't surprising to anyone who has to travel through the village regularly, is that Arksey is only accessible (directly from Bentley) by crossing the main east coast railway line. This is done by using the level crossing, which usually entails a lengthy wait at the crossing gates for one or more trains to pass. 

In this article we look at the history of the railway, the station and related stories.

Contents

• History
• The End of the Line for Arksey Station
• Marsh Lane Crossing
• Railway Timetable
• Railway Photos

History

When the Bill for the Great Northern Railway was passed in the House of Commons in 1845, no-one would have guessed the problems with the crossing future generations of Arksey residents would face. The railway was central to the Industrial Revolution and work on the new line commenced in 1847. 

The station at Arksey was originally named Stockbridge Station, and opened on the 6th of June 1848, the first to open in the Doncaster area. It was situated on the north side of the level crossing, opposite the fishing pond. The first length of track was brought into use between Knottingley and Arksey, passengers disembarked at the station and travelled by horse bus the remaining three miles to Doncaster.

Site of Arksey Station in 1903

On August 11^th 1848 the first trial trip of the line from Doncaster to Stockbridge station took place with horse drawn carriages. That same year the first King’s Cross to York trains began running, but as Doncaster only had a temporary station (which was just north of the present one) trains went via Askern to York. In 1871 The Great North Eastern Railway opened the more direct route from Doncaster to York via Arksey.

In 1850 the station was renamed Arksey and Stockbridge, and then shortened to Arksey in 1854.

Hodgson and Hepworth horse bus 1899

By 1861 four trains were operating each way daily except on Sundays, when there were three. The railway carried coal, corn, cattle and lime and was a speedy way for Bentley and Arksey villagers to reach Doncaster. In competition with the railways, the firm of Hodgson and Hepworth began operating horse buses in the late 1800’s with the purpose of bringing people from outlying districts to their shops. Bentley was one of the areas to benefit from this bus.

Another view of the station in 1905

The End of the Line for Arksey Station

Following the Second World War and the end of petrol rationing, car ownership increased, and this coupled with the poor state of repair of the railways, led to the formation of the British Transport Committee (BTC). The BTC set about closing the least used branch lines. Between 1948 and 1962 3,318 miles (5.340 km) of railway was closed. The east coast main line escaped these cuts of course, but some stations didn't, Arksey was among them. The station closed on the 5th of August 1952 although it was still used as a goods station until the 7th of December 1964. The station building lay derelict once they went out of use and they were finally demolished in the early 1970's. 

Some reports I have read online state that the station was closed during the cuts made by Richard Beeching, AKA Doctor Beeching. But as his report wasn't published until 1963, this makes his intervention impossible.

Marsh Lane Crossing

Marsh Lane (highlighted)

Marsh lane, believed to be named after the marsh land which used to dominate the area. Today the lane runs from the junction with Almholme Lane to an area beyond the railway line where it joins up with Stockbridge Lane. Originally however, Marsh Lane used to be an alternative the route into Shaftholme from Arksey. Early maps show this to be the case, and when the railway arrived in 1848 and put Arksey and Shaftholme on opposite sides of the track, both Shaftholme Lane and Marsh Lane had level crossings created. These crossing were both manned and had gatehouses with resident gatehouse keepers. 

For more on the Shaftholme gatehouse go to Local Hamlets Part One - Shaftholme. 

Marsh Lane extending all the way to Shaftholme in 1895

Situated on the right side of the lane, on the Arksey side, Marsh Lane gatehouse is first mentioned in the 1891 census when Jasper and Eliza Alderman were resident there. They appear to stayed there until around 1901.

Marsh Lane gatehouse highlighted, map 1950

Following the departure of the Alderman's, John Henry Beverley (1848 - 1909) and his wife Mary Hannah (1844 - 1917) took over the gatehouse. John was a distinguished Afghan War Veteran who had served with the 92nd Gordon Highlanders. He served for eleven years in India, was a one-time bodyguard to Queen Victoria and fought in the first Boer War. After returning home he took employment with the Midland and Great Northern Railway. He married Mary Hannah Umpleby in 1882 in Manningham St Paul. Following John's death in 1909, Mary Beverley moved into the Arksey Almshouses and many Class Meetings of the small Arksey Wesleyan Society were held there.

John Henry Beverley

John and Mary Beverley (centre) at the Marsh Lane gatehouse

Other gatehouse keepers listed include: 

• George Ley; 1918 - 1920
• Arthur Cross; 1922 - 1926
• Sydney and Emma Holmes; 1927 - 1931
• Charles and Ellen Bloomfield; 1934 - 1937
• Arthur and Doris Wilson; 1939 - ?
• Dorothy Leeson; 1945 - 1948, when she is joined by Lizzie Kirton and Daisy Jones.
• John Collinson Kirton, Lizzie Kirton and Daisy Jones; 1949 - 1953.

The gatehouse ceases to be mentioned after 1953, when it was probably demolished. Bentley pit workings had encroached on the Marsh Lane route to Shaftholme and it was now no longer possible to use that road.

The Marsh Lane foot crossing in 1981

Today, Marsh Lane as a road terminates at the start of Shaftholme Road. The lane however, becomes a rough track which leads north to the Round About Moat and then a foot crossing leads over the railway line where the old gatehouse once stood. The track continues west, running parallel with the railway for a time before meeting up with other lanes leading either south, back to Arksey over another foot crossing, on to Stockbridge lane via the locally known 'Cinder Track', or north to Bentley where it ends at Elm Crescent. These lanes make good short cuts or are handy for a short ramble. 

For more on these lanes go to Lanes Around Arksey.

Railway Timetable

The following images are from a railway timetable of 1949. Each page has the train times for the London to York route, with Arksey station listed along the way. 

Find Arksey's entries next to the red arrows.

Timetable front cover

With thanks to Nigel Hyde.

Railway Photos

1910

1950

Unknown date

1955

Arksey Station plan 1961

The 'Sir Hugo' passing through Arksey crossings, June 1950

Station Master Ron Edwards, clerk Dorothy and porter Mervyn Senior, unknown date.

Arksey crossings 1955

Arksey crossings 1955.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville

Signal box and gates

Signal Box

Signal box from the side

Signal box in the 1980's.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe

Signal box interior, instruments and lever panel, 1980's.
Photo courtesy of Jill Lowe

As above

Arksey crossing in 1976.
Photo courtesy of Pete Dumville

__________

Alison Vainlo 

Written 2012, updated 2019