Hunmanby welcomes first North Eastern Railway tile map in 100 years
It was unveiled in a low key event and Edna Bates, 100, cut the ribbon on it
Hunmanby has become the first national train station in over 100 years to get a North Eastern Railway tile map.
It was unveiled in a low key event and the ribbon was cut by village resident 100-year-old Edna Bates, who was born in 1920, when the North Eastern Railway still operated trains.
There was tea, cake and biscuits, with neighbours and her friends from Hunmanby Methodist Church and St Catherine's Hospice Shop, where Edna was still volunteering in her 100th year. In attendance also were John and Chris Edmonds who installed the tile map, and John and Monica Bridge who own the old station wall that faces the station platform.
The North Eastern Railway Tile Map, was made at the original Victorian Works of Craven Dunnill Jackfield, part of the Ironbridge UNESCO world heritage site. The handmade tiles, were paid for an anonymous donor. B Edmond and Son made no charge for their work or materials either.
John Edmond said:
"Our family has run a business from Hunmanby since 1967 and are gratefully for all the support we have received over many years from the community, myself and my brother Chris both used the railway to get to school in Scarborough every week day during the 1980's, so has a lot of fond memory’s."
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Filey, said:
“It has always been a pleasure to work with the Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station who do such wonderful work campaigning for improved services and keeping the station looking in such first-class condition. I offer my warm congratulations on yet another successful project and will continue to support their efforts wherever I can. I would love to attend Hunmanby Heritage Day"
Cllr. Roberta Swiers, who represents Hertford and Cayton Division at North Yorkshire County Council, said:
"I would just like to say on behalf of the County Council how proud Hunmanby should be to have the status of being one of the most attractive small stations in the county. The community have built on this asset in so many ways, it must be a pleasure for rail users to look at the whole station and be very envious of its whole appearance . A massive thanks to all volunteers who have made this possible. I will see you on Heritage Day."
Scarborough Borough Councillor, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, for Hunmanby ward, said:
“The new tile map is a great addition to a much loved station and will add to the wonderful welcome for users of Hunmanby Railway Station.”
Cllr. Paul Riley, who also represents Hunmanby ward at Scarborough Borough Council, said:
"I congratulate Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station on securing us this fantastic work of art - a tile map celebrating over a century and a half of railway heritage. Whilst it will be sad to look at the map and remember lines lost and stations closed, we can be sure that the Hull - Scarborough line and our own village station have a secure future with better services introduced in response to increasing passenger numbers. Our railways will play an important part in providing environmentally sustainable transport options as the country responds to the challenge of climate change."
Eden Blythe from the North Eastern Tile Company, said:
"North Eastern Railway tiled map production restarted in 2008 after the North Eastern Tile Company redrew the long - lost designs for the maps, using three original maps for reference. Craven Dunnill of Jackfield Tile Works then agreed to restart handmade production of them in both original and smaller scale sizes. The first new map was tiled to the wall of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's Pickering station that year, but we are delighted to see this new map displayed at Hunmanby station because it is the first to reappear on the National Rail network. It is a superb achievement for all involved and a very generous gesture indeed by the donors."
The work has been completed in time for National Heritage Day on Saturday 11th September, Hunmanby Railway Station will be one of the attractions in the village that day, with the North Eastern Tile Map, a display of photographs 'then and now' and a harvest giveaway as the theme this year for Heritage Day is 'edible produce'.