Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
The grass on the Spittal Brook embankment has always impressed me - http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/index.php?threads/inadvertent-features-of-stafford.4562/
Welcome to Stafford Forum. Please or sign-up and start posting!
I was guessing as I'm not quite old enough to remember the bridge being built.The embankment and bridge were built long before BRC relocated from Manchester.
I believe that they built on a genuine greenfield site.
I remember there being a level-crossing-type gate across the siding, behind the AT4 test cell and the diesel generators, but I don't recall anything ever going in or out through it during my time.View attachment 3722
Sidings into BRC and GEC seen here (not my photo.. apologies to photographer)
S
Any idea when the level crossing gates were erected. reason is that I have just discovered a report in the 1844 Advertiser referrring to the Gate Public House Spittal Brook. It was in 1841 that successful objections were raised to the line passing through Forebridge. This led to the line taking its present route, splitting Queensville in two.The line was built as two track and opened in 1847 the bridge was built in the 1890s a 4 track crossing would have been too dangerous!
S
The gates at The Gate.An odd thought is that a Gate ph at that time could refer to a turnpike gate. Can anyone comment on that before I have to work through a load of old references I have somewhere in a cardboard box?
The sale in October 1844 at the Gate PH Spittal Brook included virtually everything of value, livestock, hay,straw,dairy and brewing utensils, household furniture, owner moving to the Bird in HandAn odd thought is that a Gate ph at that time could refer to a turnpike gate. Can anyone comment on that before I have to work through a load of old references I have somewhere in a cardboard box?
So this new design replaced an original cumbersome one, it must have been quite an interesting spectacle watching the gatekeeper stop the train to allow the passage of a horse and cart.From 1864
View attachment 3841
An odd thought is that a Gate ph at that time could refer to a turnpike gate. Can anyone comment on that before I have to work through a load of old references I have somewhere in a cardboard box?
See pasttrack for picture of original gate, house and gatesOk, it doesn't look as though it was a turnpike gate there. Although given that turnpike gates & weighing machines weren't always where the name suggests they were and at times could be a mile or so before the start of the turnpike anything is possible. It appears that the original turnpike gate on that route was at "Forebridge" and is described as "lost". It was replaced by Weeping Cross gate, also described as "lost" and "not at Weeping Cross fork". It isn't lost but wasn't at Weeping Cross, it was in Acton Trussell parish where Acton Hill Road joins the A34, the cottage there may be the original turnpike cottage or may not. It was usually called Weeping Cross gate but occasionally Acton turnpike gate, causing confusion (at least to me) with Acton Gate.
Then the pub name Gate needn't have anything to do with gates at all!
See pasttrack for picture of original gate, house and gates
It makes you think - why would there be a railway crossing gate in 1844 when there was no railway?B*****. Just had a look at the 1841 census returns for the area. They have Forebridge & Queensville intertwined. Even Thomas Vickerstaff (at the Crown) is shown as in Forebridge. This means that the Forebridge tollgate, precursor to the Weeping Cross gate could have been their, and given its name to the Gate ph in Queensville. More hunting through records.
Excellent forward planning by the visionary local council was obviously apparent in 1844 just like today.It makes you think - why would there be a railway crossing gate in 1844 when there was no railway?