The aln valley railway trust is a registered charity number 1063332. Barter books alnwick 2020 all you need to know before. Barter books is a secondhand bookshop in the historic english market town of alnwick. A model railway acting as a link between the book columns of the central room, along with poetry lines. However, unlike many that had since become dilapidated, the victorian station building in alnwick began its second life as a commercial lot and became barter books, one of the biggest secondhand bookstore in the united kingdom, perhaps most famous for its revival of. At the other end of town, in an almost perfect counterbalance to the castle, is another remarkable structure the handsome old victorian railway station, home to barter books. Barter books the bookshop in the converted alnwick train station on april 5, 2019 april 5, 2019 by travel philosopher in culture, travel advice, travel philosophy, uk im a book lover, so as soon as i heard of barter books, i knew i had to find a way to visit it. Train services to these stations may vary, you can use our journey planner to confirm your travel arrangements. Located in the old anwick railway station, this is a marvellous use of an old building. But who else would put down rugs, light open fires in the winter.
Id spotted barter books in the redundant victorian railway station at alnwick, sent the family to ogle alnwick castle in its capability. Despite its name, alnmouth station is located at the western end of the village of hipsburn, near to the hamlet of bilton. One of our aims is to open up the trackbed from alnmouth station to lionheart so it is suitable for cycles. Alnwick railway station was the terminus of the alnwick branch line, which diverged from the east coast main line at alnmouth in northumberland, northern england. The main east coast railway link between edinburgh journey time approximately 1. The old goods shed from alnwick station was dismantled and relocated to beamish as part of its rowley station. Newcastle upon tyne has been independent since the 1400s.
Alnwick s original station was originally opened on 5 august, 1850 and was based to the west of the present site. Barter books is a second hand bookshop in the historic english market town of alnwick. The aln valley railway are working towards having a heritage railway between lionheart station. Barter books is lucky to be located in part of a superb old victorian railway station designed by william bell in 1887. A heritage railway operates a short section of the line, which originally ran from alnmouth railway station, on the east coast main line, to the town of alnwick, a distance of 2 3. There is a cycle route from the centre of alnwick the oaks roundabout to the lionheart enterprise park. For those of you that have ever read a harry potter book or seen one of the films, platform 9 34 needs no introduction. The nearest railway stations to alnwick castle are listed below.
Alnwick railway sta tion was the terminus o f the aln wick branch line, which diverged from the east coast main line at alnmouth in northumberland, northern england. From that time a joint partnership was formed that. It opened on 5 august 1850 to both freight and passenger traffic. Alnwick lionheart is a railway station situated on the edge of the lionheart enterprise park on the outskirts of alnwick, northumberland. The three mile long alnmouth to alnwick branch railway was. Harry potter platform 9 and three quarters at kings. Until then, you can travel up bilton bank from alnmouth station and turn right at.
For those of you who havent, this pseudofictional location at kings cross train station is where the hogwarts express begins. The branch opened on 1 october 1850 and closed in january 1968, leaving the former junction at alnmouth as the nearest station to alnwick. The turkish coastal resort of fethiye bizarrely produced a history of londons gentlemens. The british library of secondhand books, raved the new statesman. Housed in the northumbrian towns former station, barter books is a convivial. This secondhand bookshop in an old railway station has to be seen to be believed.
The station was in use until the closure of the alnwick branch line in 1968. Barter books the bookshop in the converted alnwick train. The branch opened on 1 october 1850 and closed for passengers in january 1968 and completely in october 1968. Located in a superb victorian former railway station. It is the loveliest place and its charm is complete with its own small fireplace, old victorian sofas and even a miniature train running on top of the bookshelves. The station buffet with good plain food, coffee, tea and cookies.
These include an open fire in the winter, coffee and cookies, a model railway running above. A feasibility survey has shown the railway would break even with as few as 0 passengers per year. The alnwick terminus, called lionheart station, is located near the lionheart enterprise estate on the outskirts of the town rather than on the site of the original alnwick railway station closer to the town centre. A cycleway footpath is being constructed alongside to provide a safe trafficfree corridor between alnwick and the national cycle network and the coast. With the popular attractions of alnwick garden, alnwick castle and barter books nearby and good transport links, the aln valley railway project has the prospect of being a surefire asset to the local tourist economy.
This plan had the support of the north british railway who were the north easterns great rivals in northumberland at the time. Refreshments and a working model overhead train add to the entertainment value of this excellent wet or dry day visit. Its housed in alnwick s massive old victorian railway station for a start, which explains the model railway running around the book stacks, the station clock, and drinks and food from the station buffet. If you are looking for a specific christie book, type in the books name as well, e. At one end of the town, alnwick castle seat of the dukes of northumberland dominates the scene with its stunning skyline in the midst of a capability brown setting. Alnwick station was closed in 1968 and now alnmouth for alnwick station is the nearest railway station. Old alnwick station and barter books this is the original entrance to alnwick station, which has now been converted to a used book store, barter books in alnwick. Barter books, is by far the friendliest and cosiest place to drop in, warm up with a light lunch, hot soup, crunchy roll and delicious coffee or tea. In this old railway station in historic alnwick, there is humungous second hand bookshop, with blazing fires in old waiting rooms and a. Alnwick station wagonway road alnwick, united kingdom ne662np joined august 10, 1999. Barter your books in this huge library situate in the old. A v3 262t waits at alnwicks platform one to depart with its train to alnmouth. The former alnwick station itself, is well preserved and now hosts barter books in alnwick. The historic town of alnwick sits almost midway between newcastle and berwick in the county of northumberland.
A herit age rail way operates a short section of the line, which originally ran from aln mouth railway station, on the east coast main line, to th e town of alnwick, a distance of 2 3. Barter books book shop, alnwick, northumberland visit. All sorts of valuable old books on offer with lots of local subjects as well as a wide selection of standard subjects. Alnwick is home to barter books, the largest second hand bookstore in the uk, housed in the former railway station.
If the books dont captivate your interest, the architecture, decoration and elevated model railway will. It is the western terminus and operational base of the preserved aln valley railway which is currently working to rebuild the original alnwick branch line from there to alnmouth station. Although close to the east coast main line, it was served by a branch line for nearly 120 years. Wymondham historic railway station 2020 all you need to. In the old disused station buildings in alnwick you can enjoy a fantastic experience immersed in books.
Islandshire, norhamshire and bedlingtonshire were enclaves of durham until 1844. Barter books ltd since its opening in 1991 within the premises of a small model factory at alnwick station, barter books ha barter books ltd alnwick. History of railways in northumberland this refers to the pre1974 boundaries of northumberland, after which north tyneside council became an independent local authority. Barter books, alnwick station, northumberland ne66 2np. A book for any interest, we spent a lot of time looking at the older books trying to identify ones we had from childhood forward. Brief history of the alnwick cornhill branch line in 1881 there was a proposal to build a railway line from rothbury to wooler to be called the central northumberland railway. The aln valley railway trust, is in stages, reconstructing the branch as a heritage railway. No pressure to buy though youll want to, just wander around, have a. Its more than a bookshop, its a journey into your childhood, your history, your dreams. A busylooking station with trains waiting in both platforms in the mid1950s. Barter books is in the former alnwick railway station. The alnwick branch line is a partly close d railwa y line in northumberland, northern england. Alnwick railway station was the terminus of the alnwick branch line, which diverged from the.
Former railway station, alnwick barter books cocurate. The bookshop is in the victorian alnwick railway station, designed by william bell and opened in 1887. The alnwick branch line is a partly closed railway line in northumberland, northern england. Work is now in hand to more than double the length of the line to edenhill bridge where there will be a new halt. Books, trains and great food barter books, alnwick. Alnwick s railway station was axed by beeching an important fact for later in the 60s. Situated in the old station in alnwick barter books is an establishment where you can buy used books or exchange them as well as buy rare books and first editions. Unless shown otherwise in the special offers section, travel between the station shown and alnwick. Along with its famous castle and gardens, alnwick boasted a majestic trainshed, all the more remarkable for being on a mere branch line.
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