








The
Station of Studley and Astwood Bank station was situated
3 miles and 11 chains south from Redditch and was opened
on 4th May 1868 to both passenger and goods traffic. The
station was provided with a large brick two-storey
building accommodating the station master's family and
an attached single storey structure within which the
passenger services were provided; namely a booking
office, booking hall, ladies waiting room and a general
waiting room. The goods shed was equipped with a fixed
position 30 cwt (one and half ton) hand operated crane
which could revolve 360 degrees within the shed. A
separate office was built at the Redditch end of the
shed. Within the station access road was a weighbridge
and office. Beside the weighbridge there was for many
year even after closure a grounded coach body. The yard
capacity was fifty-five wagons with the entry from the
Redditch end controlled by ground frame released by the
single line tablet. Three coal merchants were based in the
yard including Alcester Cooperative and Thomas and
Mathew Dixon better know locally as T&M Dixon (the latter were
based in Redditch with their own sidings). T&M Dixon
also had coal facilities at Evesham and were the owners
of Tardebigge orchards. In latter years
both the Redditch and Evesham facilities were given over
to the sales of Leyland cars and petrol. The standard
Midland Railway signal box controlled the southern
access to the yard. The first signal box at the station
was opened prior to 1st November 1975 and was replaced
by a second signal box on 25th May 1891. In latter years
the signal box was only open each day for around eight
hours so as to allow the pick up freight trains access
to the yard and was for the rest of the time switch out.
Passenger services for the station were suspended after
operation on the 29th September 1962 with freight
facilities losing on 17th June 1963 prior to the closure
of the line on 6th July 1964 when freight facilities
were withdrawn from Alcester station. After closure the
station remained intact for many years. Much of the
station site and the track bed between Redditch and
Studley had been purchased by the Redditch Development
Corporation in the late 1960’s. During 2015 the station
house and building were sold and continue to be used as
a single dwelling. The good shed was demolished and
during 2016 a number of houses have been built on a
large part of the former station yard.
(for
more pictures of Studley & Astwood Bank Station)