Page 26 - City Life Magazine - Autumn Edition

26 Issue 56 • October 2021

UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES

Worcester’s iconic Victorian railway arches are currently being
refurbished, transforming a central city area into a modern,
21st-century workplace for creative industries.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has awarded
over £3m from the Cultural Development Fund (administered by Arts

Council England), towards the costs of this £4.5m redevelopment.

Tracking the history of the railway

The line had benefits
for both businesses and
passengers. It opened
up a route to the south
and west and enabled
people to visit Malvern
more easily, making a
big difference to tourism.
Malvern’s population was
By Paul Hudson, Worcestershire to Hereford Railway which then just 4,000 but by
linked the city to Malvern,
Archive and Archaeology Service Herefordshire and Wales. 1861, 5,000 visitors were
arriving per day!
Converting Worcester’s The railway viaduct is a Railways arrived in While previously many
Victorian railway arches prominent landmark in Worcester in 1850 when Worcester companies used
into trendy studios for Worcester, with 65 arches Shrub Hill Station opened, canals, they started to use
creatives may have its stretching from Foregate linking the county to the railways more and more.
challenges – but they Street Station to the main rail network. Shortly The vinegar works, the
are nothing compared bridge which crosses the after this, a proposal was largest in the world, even
to those involved in River Severn. made to build a line to had their own siding. The
constructing the original link Worcester to the west. new line allowed goods
railway in the 19th It was completed in 1859, An Act of Parliament was to be transported quicker
Century. as part of the Worcester passed in 1853 and after and more efficiently
a short delay, construction between Worcester and
began.
South Wales, and towns in
between.
BLASTING THE
ROUTE TO MALVERN Some houses were located
Various engineering close to the line. Twins
challenges faced the Elsie and Josie, who grew
builder. A tunnel had to up in Worcester in the
be built through the hard 1920s, recall waving to
rock of the Malvern Hills, the train drivers as they
with a viaduct needed passed, being so close that
in Ledbury as well as they could shout over to
Worcester. one another!

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