Monument record 6297/1 - London & North Western Railway (London & Birmingham Main Line Railway)

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Summary

The London and Birmingham Main Line was authorised in 1833 with Robert Stephenson as the engineer. The route took it North of London through the Tring Gap via Watford and Harrow. The line was completed in 1838. There are many major engineering works, notably the tunnels and embankments. The first section of line was the Euston - Boxmoor section on 20-June-1837. Boxmoor - Denbigh Hill and Rugby - Birmingham opened on 09-April-1838, and the final section opened on 17-September-1838. Doubling proceeded from 1859 and a New Watford Tunnel was opened in 1874.

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

{1} London and Birmingham railway, opened 1838. Still in use.

{4} The London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR) was an early railway company from 1833 until 1846, at which date it became a constituent part of the London and North Western Railway. The 112 mile (180km) long railway line that the company built between London and Birmingham was, when it opened in 1838, one of the first intercity railway lines in the world, and the first railway line to be built into London. It survives to the present day as the southern section of the West Coast Main Line. The line was engineered by Robert Stephenson.

{6} Account of a rail disaster in 1915 at Weedon Bec.


<1> Starmer G.H., 1996, Some Transport Features Between Weedon and Junction 18 On The M1, (checked) (Report). SNN3582.

<2> 1920, Railway Clearing House pre-1923 Junction Diagrams, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN106338.

<3> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 1996-2013, Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter, Issue 113 p.7 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN55360.

<4> 2011, Our Transport Heritage - Heritage Locations - Blisworth Arch, (checked) (Website). SNN107380.

<5> 1853, Estate Map of Dodmore Farm, (checked) (Map). SNN109226.

<6> Brown, J., 2013, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for the Weedon Bec and Flore Bypass, Northamptonshire, p.25 (checked) (Report). SNN109173.

<7> Richards J., 2013, Rye Hill, Watford Gap: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109596.

<8> Leleux, R, 1976, A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The East Midlands, p. 15-20 (Book). SNN110373.

Sources/Archives (8)

  • <1> Report: Starmer G.H.. 1996. Some Transport Features Between Weedon and Junction 18 On The M1. N.I.A.G.. (checked).
  • <2> Plan: 1920. Railway Clearing House pre-1923 Junction Diagrams. (unchecked).
  • <3> Newsletter: Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group. 1996-2013. Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Newsletter. NIAG Newsletter. 62 - 131. NIAG. Issue 113 p.7 (unchecked).
  • <4> Website: 2011. Our Transport Heritage - Heritage Locations - Blisworth Arch. www.transportheritage.com. (checked).
  • <5> Map: 1853. Estate Map of Dodmore Farm. NRO map 3527. (checked).
  • <6> Report: Brown, J.. 2013. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for the Weedon Bec and Flore Bypass, Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. 13/164. Northants Archaeology. p.25 (checked).
  • <7> Report: Richards J.. 2013. Rye Hill, Watford Gap: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. Headland Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. RHWG13. Headland Archaeology. (unchecked).
  • <8> Book: Leleux, R. 1976. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The East Midlands. IX. p. 15-20.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (18)

Related Events/Activities (4)

Location

Grid reference Centred SP 62433 60787 (22290m by 24270m) Approximate
Civil Parish HARTWELL, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)
Civil Parish KILSBY, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish LONG BUCKBY, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish NETHER HEYFORD, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)
Civil Parish NORTON, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish BLISWORTH, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)
Civil Parish ROADE, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)
Civil Parish STOWE IX CHURCHES, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish WATFORD, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish WEEDON BEC, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish WHILTON, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish BROCKHALL, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish BUGBROOKE, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)
Civil Parish COURTEENHALL, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)
Civil Parish ASHBY ST. LEDGERS, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish DODFORD, West Northamptonshire (formerly Daventry District)
Civil Parish ASHTON, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)
Civil Parish GAYTON, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District)

Protected Status/Designation

Other Statuses/References

  • NRHE HOB UID: 1363576

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:30PM

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