Railway crossing by the Spittal Brook

stoofer34

Well-Known Forumite
queensville.jpg


Sidings into BRC and GEC seen here (not my photo.. apologies to photographer)


S
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
The embankment and bridge were built long before BRC relocated from Manchester.

I believe that they built on a genuine greenfield site.
I was guessing as I'm not quite old enough to remember the bridge being built. :lol:
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
View attachment 3722

Sidings into BRC and GEC seen here (not my photo.. apologies to photographer)


S
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.

There was, though, always the 'fun' of Tonka collecting the Innocenti swarf on Thursday.
 

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
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
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.
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
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?
 

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
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 Hand
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
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?

Ok, 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!
 

industryarch

Well-Known Forumite
Ok, 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
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
See pasttrack for picture of original gate, house and gates

The only picture of Stafford toll houses/gates I can find on Past Track is the Littleworth gates by what is now the Met Bar (ex Gate). There is passing reference to others - "Stafford's toll-gates were located at Littleworth, Hyde Lea Lane, Derrington, Acton Gate, Sandon, Yarlet, Rowley Park and opposite the castle gates". Either they don't reckon the Weeping Cross gate was in Stafford or it is being confused with Acton gate at Acton Gate. Still we are getting off topic, which was the Gate pub at Queensville. It seems unlikely to have been an early name for the Spital Brook/Crown/Spittal Brook as the two appear to overlap by about 10 years. (Spittal Brook converted from a farmhouse to a beerhouse in 1834, renamed Crown in 1838 and retaining that name till 1998, Gate ph, including brewhouse, for sale 1844.[thanks @darts22 and The Inns & Alehouses ...]).
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
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.
 

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
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.
It makes you think - why would there be a railway crossing gate in 1844 when there was no railway?
 
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