Rail Lands Projects

Over the years the Rail Lands have flourished at the hands of the TRLRT, Feoffees, TTC and CDC. The TRLRT has played a major role in implementing the scheme by providing the energy and drive needed to regenerate the Rail Lands, providing a variety of community facilities.

Preston Park

The start of the Rail Lands occurred in 1995 when the Tetbury Feoffees took out a 999 year lease on the field that became Preston Park. Under the terms of the lease the Park is for the use of the general public, including horse riders, and free of charge.

The stream that eventually becomes the River Avon runs along the bottom of the field and the track of the Old Tetbury Branch Line runs inside the Park’s South-East boundary on the other side of the stream. Preston Park is located at the end of Herd Lane and has an all-weather access path that is being extended down to join up with the Tetbury Trail.

Parkland

A view from the loading platform towards the site of the old station

The site of the old railway station and the railway yard as far as the Goods Shed was landscaped to form an attractive park in 2000. It includes a large grassed area, a wood, benches and a sleeper path that runs roughly along the track of the old railway line.

Car Park

Long stay car park

The Cotswold District Council built the Long Stay Car Park on the site of the northern end of the old railway yard in 2000. It includes a coach parking area and reversing spur.

Picnic Area

Picnic area

A landscaped picnic area was built beyond the long stay car park in 2000. Five picnic benches were originally installed that deteriorated over the years and were replaced with new benches in 2018.

Millennium Green

The Millennium Green

The Feoffees created the Millennium Green on the site of the old stock market and car park which were adjacent to the old station site. This provided a town green for Tetbury at the bottom of Gumstool Hill that was opened in 2000 by HRH the Prince of Wales.

Town Pond

The town pond

The silted up Horsepool on the west side of the Millennium Green was cleaned out, the bottom lined and a small weir installed to form a scenic pond in 2000.

Will’s Bridge

Will’s bridge

This was built over the ‘splash’ in 2000 to connect the Millennium Green to the Goods Shed, railway parkland and Long Stay Car Park. Look out for the two toads that live there.

Tiled Pavement

Will Cook completing the tiled pavement

A circular tiled pavement was built not far from the Malmesbury Road in 2004 to mark the site of the old Tetbury Station. The tiles were all made by local children and the wheel from a porter’s trolley was placed in the centre.

Housing

Houses on the Millennium Green

In 2005 four houses were built along the north side of the Millennium Green, most of which were affordable housing. The houses were constructed of Cotswold stone and in a style in keeping with the other old cottages in Tetbury.

Tetbury Trail

The Tetbury Trail

What was originally built as a footpath/cyclepath in 2000 is now a multi-user path known as the Tetbury Trail that was extended in 2016 and 2018.

To read further information click here.

Refurbished Goods Shed

The Goods Shed was completely restored and extended then opened as an Arts Centre at the end of 2016 by HRH the Prince of Wales.

The Goods Shed has been painted in the British Railways Western Region colours it would have had during the 1950s.

To read further information click here.

Loading Platform

Opening the refurbished loading platform

The livestock loading platform adjacent to the Goods Shed had become so derelict it was a danger to the public. In 2017 volunteers rebuilt extensive sections of the platform and fitted new railings and posts so it can be used for outside performances and as a bandstand.

Bike Racks

Bike racks in use

A set of bicycle racks were installed when the station site was originally landscaped in 2000 but unfortunately had to be removed as they were unsafe. A replacement set of six bike racks were supplied by the Town Council and installed by the Trust in 2017. They are located opposite the Goods Shed’s kitchen.

Railway Carriage

Finnish railway carriage

A 1949 Finnish railway carriage was obtained from a defunct Leicestershire museum, transported to Tetbury and completely refurbished. The completed carriage was opened in 2018 and is used as a café and to hold workshops. The woodburning stove and a number of original Finnish signs are still in place.

Exercise Trail

Seven exercise stations

An exercise trail with 20 exercise stations was built along the Goods Shed end of the Tetbury Trail. The exercise trail was opened in 2018.

To read further information click here.

Branch Line Memories

Tetbury station before demolition

A video was produced containing the memories from those people who either worked on or used the Tetbury Branch Line in the 1950s and 60s. The video called ‘Track Tales’ was premiered in 2019 and can be viewed in the Goods Shed.

To read further information click here.

Information Signs

Click this thumbnail to view the tank traps information board

Click this thumbnail to view the picnic area information boards

Click this thumbnail to view the signs one by one

A number of information signs have been installed in the rail lands. A sign about Tetbury and the Goods Shed is located right in front of the Goods Shed. Two signs about the walks in the area and the old branch line are located in the picnic area. A sign by the anti-tank bollards was unveiled in 2019. Eight signs marking railway locations were installed between the Goods Shed and the Malmesbury Road in 2019.

Wildlife Habitat

Waterflow improvements

A scheme to improve the wildlife habitat was implemented along first part of the Tetbury Trail in 2019. This included wild flower planting, woodland management, waterflow improvement and the installation of bat and bird boxes.

Children’s Playground

The Playground

A children’s playground has been planned for the Rail Lands for many years. It is now open and is located on the far side of the grass area in the parkland near the Goods Shed.

Children’s Garden

The “Cabbage Patch” children’s garden was constructed in 2021 alongside the playground as an area for children to grow fruit and vegetables.

Three raised beds bordered by sleepers have been constructed for children’s groups to use. A small shed for garden tools has also been installed along with a bench to sit and admire the plants.

Signal Box

Tetbury Signal Box

The Tetbury Signal Box was originally built when the branch line was constructed in 1889 but became redundant in 1926 when it was sold off to become a potting shed in a local garden. By 2010 the signal box had become very dilapidated and was due to be demolished when it was rescued by railway historian Stephen Randolph.

Stephen completely restored the signal box to its original condition and rebuilt it in his Derbyshire garden. In 2021 Stephen was moving house and kindly donated the signal box, a signal and the Tetbury station master’s desk to the Trust.

The signal box has been re-sited a few yards from its original position in Tetbury and painted in the authentic Great Western Railway colour scheme it would have had in 1926.

New Wood

A new wood has been created by removing the mass of brambles and planting trees on the slope above the Children’s Garden that is located close to the Goods Shed. Further trees have been planted along the top of the cliff face behind the Goods Shed and down the other side by the picnic area.

The New Wood can be accessed through the gates in the fencing round the Children’s Garden.