York railway station (1841)
York "old" railway station served the city of York, England between 1841 and 1877. The station, which was the line's terminus within York city walls, was superseded by York railway station. The old station is a Grade II* listed building.
Origin
In 1839, the York and North Midland Railway opened the first railway station in York. A temporary building just outside the city walls on Queen Street. It acted as the terminus of the original mainline route for trains to London, via and Birmingham.Within two years, the Y&NMR had completed York old station inside the city walls at the junction of Toft Green, Tanner Row and Station Rise. The building was the work of architect George Townsend Andrews, who also designed the neo-Tudor arches in the city walls which allowed trains to access the station. When it opened on 4 January 1841, the temporary station was closed.
Building
Andrews built the station in an Italianate style. The main façade, which faces Tanner Row and Toft Green, has a symmetrical seventeen-bay three-storey block. The ground floor is constructed from limestone while the upper floors are brick with stone dressings.Behind the station facade was the train-shed containing the platforms which had a canopy constructed in iron. It was demolished in 1965. By the city walls, were brick buildings which housed the refreshment rooms and waiting rooms. They originally were only one storey but second floor was added in 1850.
Andrews also designed the hotel on Station Rise. After it was completed in 1853, it became the first purpose-built hotel to be incorporated into a railway station. It was named "The Royal Station Hotel" in 1854 following a visit by Queen Victoria.
Closure
With the rapid increase in the number of new railway lines during the period known as railway mania, this station suffered from being the terminus for all trains from London. When plans were proposed for York to become part of the route from London to and beyond. Any through-trains calling at York would have to reverse out of the station to continue their journeys.In 1877 the current York railway station opened on a site just outside the city walls for all through-trains. Although passenger services into York Old Station ceased, the lines were used a sidings until 1965. The railway building and hotel were converted into offices. Following the Beeching Axe the lines were lifted, and the station site cleared.