TWO DISUSED railway buildings have been transformed into useful community spaces following extensive works to repurpose them.
On February 22, celebrations were held to mark the transformation of the original station building at Henley-in-Arden, which had lain out of use since the 1990s. The refurbished building was officially opened by Network Rail’s chairman, Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill, who was joined by representatives from the Railway Heritage Trust, Henley-in-Arden Parish Council, West Midlands Railway, Friends of the Shakespeare Line, and Friends of Henley Railway Station to celebrate its completion.
The refurbishment was spearheaded by the Friends of Henley Railway Station, with support from Network Rail, West Midlands Railway, Henley-in-Arden Parish Council and the Railway Heritage Trust. The former station building now houses a community bar and lounge, and also incorporates a micro-brewery. The lounge is equipped with IT facilities and can be hired for small functions. All income and profits from the bar and community space will be invested back into the building, facilities, and station area.
Lord Hendy said: “It is wonderful to see partners and volunteers coming together to put the railway at the heart of the local community. I’d like to thank everybody involved in this project, and I hope passengers from Henley and beyond will experience the benefits that this repurposed building brings for years to come.”
Angela Okey, chair of Friends of Henley Railway Station, said: “After living in Henley for several years and walking my dogs past the derelict station building every morning, it saddened me to see the state of disrepair of what was once an iconic and beautiful building.
“The aim was always to make this a community project, and by involving local people with the same love of their town, it has been a delight to work on and watch the enthusiasm of everyone.
“As well as being a welcoming meeting place for residents, we hope it will attract more footfall to our beautiful town of Henley-in-Arden, which in turn will support local businesses and traders.”
