Wymering (Park)
Wymering railway station [1]was a railway station opened in 1928 to serve the adjacent racecourse, Paulsgrove Park a pony racing stronghold[2]. The racecourse, and station, lay in the Paulsgrove district of Portsmouth[3], rather than the modern area known as Wymering. The station was located[4] on the West Coastway Line[5] between Cosham and Portchester and generated much income within the area[6].
The funding for the station along with the racecourse came from local businessman George Cooper[7], who lived at nearby Paulsgrove House and was a keen sports fan[8]. The station was built in the style of a 'halt' rather than a full station.
The station closed along with the racecourse when the land was acquired by the military in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II; it was to be used as an amunition dump.
Since the end of WWII the area has been developed for housing and there have been a number of attempts made to open a station on the same site. Provision for a station has been included in the Local Development Plan of the City of Portsmouth for many years.
On the 26th October 2007, Portsmouth F.C. announced plans to relocate to a new 36 000 seat stadium on Horsea Island, which is situated to the south of the former station site. As part of the stadium plans, they are drawing up an integrated transport policy which includes examining the feasibility of opening a station.
Today the name only lives on as a bus stop[9]South West Trains indicated on 29th October 2007, via an interview in the Portsmouth News, that the clubs' plan may generate sufficient business, even if the station was only opened on match days[10], for them to consider a further study should the club wish to proceed.
External links
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosham | Southern Region | Portchester |
References
- ^ Details of opening
- ^ Pony racing links
- ^ ”Railways and Portsmouth Society” Riley, R.C : Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council, 2001 ISBN 0901559997
- ^ Location of track
- ^ Bridge to Course
- ^ Local trade opportunities
- ^ "Lost railways of Hampshire" Oppitz,L: Newbury, Countryside Books, 2001 ISBN 1853066893
- ^ Early history
- ^ Public transport links
- ^ New Paulsgrove Station
See also
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