Whitwell Station, on the Ventnor West branch of the Isle of Wight Central Railway, was opened on 20 July 1897 along with the other stations on the branch (with the exception of Ventnor West which opened in 1900). It was equipped with a

passing loop A passing loop (UK usage) or passing siding (North America) (also called a crossing loop, crossing place, refuge loop or, colloquially, a hole) is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at or near a station, where trains or ...

, two platforms, a signal box and a substantial station building.

History

The station was opened on 20 July 1897, and was originally named ''Whitwell''. At the time of opening the route was popular featuring a passing loop and two platforms, the only station on the line to have this. It was renamed ''Whitwell Halt'' on 1 July 1941.

Stationmasters

*James Cooper ca. 1899 *Samuel John Urry ca. 1907 (afterwards station master at Freshwater) *F. Newland from 1908 (formerly station master at Freshwater) *Mr. Hawkins ca. 1935

Present

The station is now a private dwelling house, but a good deal of its original railway-station features remain, such as the waiting shelter on the old up platform, which has been restored.

Location

Unlike neighbouring

Godshill Godshill is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England, with a population of 1,459 at the 2011 Census. It lies between Newport and Ventnor in the southeast of the island. History Godshill is one of the ancient parishes that exis ...

, the station was closer to the community it was meant to serve. It also served the nearby villages of Niton and Chale.

Other stations on the branch

The other stations on the Ventnor West branch were: *

Merstone Merstone is a hamlet on the Isle of Wight. It is home to Merston Manor, built in 1605 in the Jacobean style by Edward Cheeke, and rebuilt in the Victorian era. Merston Manor was first mentioned in the Domesday Book, and the present structure is a ...

(where the branch joined the Newport-Sandown line) *

St Lawrence Saint Lawrence or Laurence ( la, Laurentius, lit. " laurelled"; 31 December AD 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman ...

(the original terminus of the line from 1897 to 1900) * Ventnor West

References

External links

Subterranea Britannica: SB-Sites: Whitwell Station
{{coord, 50.6018, -1.2636, type:railwaystation_region:GB, display=title Disused railway stations on the Isle of Wight Former Isle of Wight Central Railway stations Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1897 Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1952