The Railway Hotel
Presently occupied by Godfrey Payton, chartered surveyors, was
the original Railway Hotel. It was in it's day ideally situated, being
just opposite the entrance to the Railway Station on the corner of
Saint Mary's and Great Bowden Road. A few years later, a more modern
pebble-dash building a few yards further North on the Great Bowden
Road opposite St. Mary of Arden, became
the Railway Hotel. During the early part of the 1960's, this was demolished
when Spencers Engineering bought the land in their relocation from
premises in Highfield Street.
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The
Railway Station
There has been a train service in Market Harborough since 1850, and a
main line to London since 1857. In 1965, when the Beeching Plan was introduced
to streamline the railways and try to make them more profitable, about
2000 stations and 5000 miles of track were closed. This meant that the
town lost it's direct links to Rugby and Northampton, leaving only the
main line from Sheffield to London.
The present grade II listed, Queen Anne styled building built in 1885,
is Victorian, and has changed little over the years. The most striking
feature being the five tall chimneys, some of which have disappeared and
reappeared in recent times. A program of improvements and renovation -
a joint venture by the Railway Heritage Trust and Railtrack completed
in 1998 - has restored the building near to it's original state.
For more information on Market Harborough Railway Station visit: Midland
Mainline
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