MYO825 - RAILWAY STATION - York Historic Environment Record (2024)

Building record MYO825 - RAILWAY STATION

Summary

York railway station was built in 1872-77, designed by Thomas Prosser, Benjamin Burley and William Peachey. Built of yellow brick with stone dressings. At the rear is the notable train shed, built on a curve, 800 feet in length and covered by a prefabricated iron structure. Listed Grade II*.

Location

Grid reference SE 5959 5171 (point)
Map sheet SE55SE
Unitary Authority City of York, North Yorkshire
Civil Parish York, City of York, North Yorkshire

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Type and Period (15)

  • RAILWAY STATION (1872-1877, Late 19th Century - 1872 AD to 1877 AD)
  • BOOKING OFFICE (1872-1877, Late 19th Century - 1872 AD to 1877 AD)
  • PLATFORM (1872-1877, Late 19th Century - 1872 AD to 1877 AD)
  • TRAIN SHED (1872-1877, Late 19th Century - 1872 AD to 1877 AD)
  • TEA ROOM (1900-1909, Late 19th Century to 20th Century - 1900 AD to 1909 AD)
  • SIGNAL BOX (1900-1909, Late 19th Century to 20th Century - 1900 AD to 1909 AD)
  • PLATFORM (1900-1909, Late 19th Century to 20th Century - 1900 AD to 1909 AD)
  • SHOP (1900-1909, Late 19th Century to 20th Century - 1900 AD to 1909 AD)
  • PLATFORM (1938-1939, 20th Century - 1938 AD to 1939 AD)
  • FOOTBRIDGE (1938-1939, 20th Century - 1938 AD to 1939 AD)
  • RAILWAY STATION (1942, 20th Century - 1942 AD to 1942 AD)
  • RAILWAY STATION (1947, 20th Century - 1947 AD to 1947 AD)
  • SIGNAL BOX (1951, 20th Century - 1951 AD to 1951 AD)
  • RAILWAY STATION (1977, 20th Century - 1977 AD to 1977 AD)
  • RAILWAY STATION (1972, 20th Century - 1972 AD to 1972 AD)

Full Description

Formerly known as: The New Station STATION PLACE. Railway station. 1872-77: original platforms extended to north and south, western platform and Tea Room added, Platform Signal Box and bookshop constructed 1900-09; western platform refurbished and new footbridge built 1938-39; damaged by bomb in 1942, repaired 1947; new Signal Box 1951; all windscreens except one replaced in 1972; major refurbishment in 1977. Original architects were Thomas Prosser, Benjamin Burley and William Peachey. MATERIALS: station and train shed of yellow Scarborough brick in Flemish and English garden-wall bonds with moulded ashlar plinth, plinth band and dressings; roof carried on wrought-iron trusses supported on cast-iron columns. 1930s platform buildings of colour-washed stucco; new Signal Box of orange brick in stretcher bond, header bond on curved corners, with artificial stone dressings: footbridge iron framed with iron railings; Platform signal box and Tea Room of timber. Roofs generally glazed, with some slate, and glazed windscreens; extension platforms covered with corrugated steel sheeting. Stacks are brick, some with moulded stone cornices. PLAN: station consists of aisled train shed with former ticket hall and concourse on eastern side, and portico further east: to west, extension platform with service buildings and new Signal Box built against train shed western wall. EXTERIOR: portico is of 1 storey with clerestory and 9 bays behind cantilevered glazed awning. Arcaded front is of keyed segmental arches on pilaster piers with moulded stone imposts and hoodmoulds. Centre bay is open; flanking bays closed by balustrades of bulbous stone balusters and brick piers, the upper part with glazed timber screens. Moulded eaves cornice surmounted by balustraded parapet. Station clock on S-shaped projecting bracket incorporating the arms of the North Eastern Railway Co. to left of centre. Former ticket hall front within portico: 1 storey and clerestory; 12 bays, 4 centre bays breaking forward. 4 segment-arched openings in centre have pilaster jambs with moulded stone plinth bands and imposts; spandrels at the head are sunk panelled beneath clerestory lights in semicircular keyed brick arches with stone hoodmoulds. Openings on each side, some squat 6-pane sash windows, some altered to C20 doors, have stepped brick panels with segmental heads, some glazed, in clerestory. Train shed elevations: 1 storey and clerestory; blind arcades of round-arched recesses between 3-stage buttresses with moulded stone offsets: clerestory above plain stone band is pierced in each bay by an oculus. Moulded stone eaves cornice, badly decayed in places. At each end are massive square terminal piers with moulded bracket cornices and cross pedimented caps. On western side, New Signal Box is of 3 storeys, 13 bays. The main part is articulated in brick pilasters each with oversize triple keyblock of artificial stone at the head. Windows are metal framed top-opening or pivoting lights. Tea Room Square front: 2 storeys and attic; 6-bay quoined front arranged 2:2:2; centre bays on ground floor project to form 1-storey canted bay window, balustraded at first floor: to left is lower 2-storey 2-bay block. Ground floor openings to main part are arcaded in tall keyed round arches with hoodmoulds between pilaster piers with moulded capitals, those to bay window crocketed. Windows are recessed, of 2 lights, 5 panes high, with blind round heads, over moulded stone sills: centre bay window is altered to makeshift door. All first floor windows are segment-headed 2-light casem*nts over moulded stone sills and swagged stone aprons, set in cambered arches with garlanded keyblocks. Moulded eaves cornice beneath balustrade of bulbous stone balusters, brick piers and moulded stone coping. Central attic flanked by volutes encloses swagged arms of the NER. Block to left has recessed round-headed sash windows on ground floor, cambered arched sashes on first floor, all 4-paned. Tea Rooms extending through train shed wall on both sides has 2-storey 4-bay spine block between 1-storey parallel ranges. 1-storey fronts have bowed and canted bay windows with square latticed transomed casem*nts incorporating good Art Nouveau glass. Panelled parapet over bracketed eaves string. Bow windows to Square front have domed caps surmounted by tall finials. Original train shed windscreen of tiered arcaded lights survives at end of eastern aisle between Tea Rooms and station hotel. INTERIOR: former ticket hall has roof of 7 hammer beam trusses springing from corbel brackets and stiffened with ornate tie rods. Segment arched opening with garlanded keyblock leads to concourse, between segment-arched doorways with semicircular fanlights. In clerestory over each arch are semicircular panels of brick or stone with stone voussoirs, keyblocks and hoodmoulds. Concourse enclosed on three sides by 2-storey ranges except where bomb damaged. Central opening is segment-arched with pilaster responds and moulded imposts. Canted corner bays have doorways with pilasters jambs with foliate capitals beneath semicircular brick arches set with stone voussoirs, and hoodmoulds with volute keyblocks. Ground floor openings, originally round headed 4-pane sash windows now mostly altered, are round-arched and recessed and tied with moulded impost band. Above moulded cornice, upper floor openings are blind sunk panels in moulded surrounds across main range, 4-pane sashes beneath keyed cambered arches in side ranges.
North of central arch is a ceramic tiled map of the NE Railway network in moulded tile frame. Fourth side of concourse partly blocked by 2-storey Platform Signal Box and bookshop. Bookshop has sliding shop doors on concourse side. First floor glazed with 6-pane horizontal sliding sashes over moulded sunk panels. Moulded bracketed eaves cornice. On concourse side is a clock in pedimented timber surround beneath voluted panel enclosing a roundel. On platform side, massive clock on openwork S-shaped bracket incorporating foliage, white roses and the City of York arms projects over footbridge. Train shed is aisled in arcades of segmental arches springing from Composite columns also supporting transverse segment-arched trusses, the outer ends of which are carried on pilasters attached to outer walls: arch spandrels filled with heraldry set in foliage trails incorporating the Yorkshire rose. Inner side of walls arcaded as outside. Brackets projecting from two columns and incorporating foliated NER monogram now support television screens. North and south extensions are roofed with braced trusses on twin colonnades of slim Corinthian columns: canopies are valanced. (Bartholomew City Guides: Hutchinson J and Palliser DM: York: Edinburgh: 1980-: 246-7).
Listing NGR: SE5959751712

Derived from English Heritage LB download dated: 22/08/2005

Mentioned in the york central audit of heritge assets, the station was constructed in 1877.

Male toilet block recorded in 2022 ahead of demolition.

Dr Bill Fawcett, John A Ives and Alison Sinclair, 2013, YORK CENTRAL AUDIT OF HERITAGE ASSETS,NOVEMBER 2013 (Report). SYO1457.

York Archaeological Trust, 2017, York Station and Queen St Bridge DBA (Unpublished document). SYO2053.

Arup, 2018, York Station Frontage HER ST (Unpublished document). SYO2257.

NMR, 2019, NMR data (Digital archive). SYO2214.

2022, Toilet Block Platform 2 (Unpublished document). SYO2831.

Sources/Archives (5)

  • --- SYO1457 Report: Dr Bill Fawcett, John A Ives and Alison Sinclair. 2013. YORK CENTRAL AUDIT OF HERITAGE ASSETS,NOVEMBER 2013.
  • --- SYO2053 Unpublished document: York Archaeological Trust. 2017. York Station and Queen St Bridge DBA.
  • --- SYO2214 Digital archive: NMR. 2019. NMR data.
  • --- SYO2257 Unpublished document: Arup. 2018. York Station Frontage HER ST.
  • --- SYO2831 Unpublished document: 2022. Toilet Block Platform 2.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Conservation Area Conservation Area 1: Central Historic Core Conservation Area
  • Listed Building (II*) 464767: RAILWAY STATION

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (5)

  • OTHER: NRHE to HER Project (EYO6536)
  • EXCAVATION: York Railway Station (Ref: 1972.16) (EYO4881)
  • DBA: York Station (Ref: 2456/09) (EYO4300)
  • DBA: York Station and Queen St Bridge (Ref: 2017/105) (EYO6398)
  • EVALUATION: York Station Frontage, York (Ref: 2018/116) (EYO7790)

Record last edited

Mar 4 2022 1:28PM

MYO825 - RAILWAY STATION - York Historic Environment Record (2024)

FAQs

What is the longest train station name ever recorded? ›

The station is known for its longer name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, but this is a Victorian contrivance for the benefit of tourists with no basis in historical usage.

Why is York station on a curve? ›

Engineers used girders with arched soffits to connect the columns. A soffit is an architectural term, here referring to the curved underside of the girders. The project team used bowed (curved) girders – known as ribs – to carry the roof across the tracks and platforms.

How old is York Railway Station? ›

Construction of the present station took place between 1871 and 1877. Opened on 25 June 1877, it had 13 platforms and, at that time, was the largest railway station in the world. As part of the new station project, the Royal Station Hotel (now The Principal York), designed by Peachey, opened in 1878.

Who designed York train station? ›

History of York

It was designed by the North Eastern Railway's architect Thomas Prosser. The 800ft-long train-shed roof, held 42ft above the platforms by iron columns, was widely admired. The whole station is built on a curve, making the architecture all the more impressive. It was called 'a monument to extravagence'.

What is the oldest train station in the world still in use? ›

Opened on September 15, 1830, Liverpool Road Station holds the distinction of being the world's oldest existing train station.

What does Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch translate to? ›

It translates into English as St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the Red Cave. The village was given this long name as a publicity stunt to bring people to the village in the Victorian era of railway tourism. The stunt was successful.

Why do NYC trains skip stops? ›

As for skipping local stops, there is a skip stop service on the J line using also a rush hour Z train. Finally, if local trains are running late and multiple trains are backed up, sometimes the first train may skip some stops. This saves time for everyone if that train is sitting in every station for a long time.

When did the first train leave York Station? ›

The current York Station around the turn of the 20th Century, showing the curved roof. The station opened in 1877 with the first train leaving at 5:30am on June 25th, bound for Scarborough. At the time, it was the largest railway station in the world with thirteen platforms.

Is York a big train station? ›

When York Station opened, it was the largest station anywhere in the world. Today it boasts 11 platforms, all but 3 (9, 10 and 11) are covered by its iconic glass and wrought iron roof.

What is the oldest railroad station in the United States? ›

The Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum is the oldest railroad station in America! The B&O Ellicott City Station Museum is the terminus of the first 13 miles of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

What is the most famous railway station in New York? ›

Grand Central Terminal - New York City's most famous train station.

Why are railway stations built on a curve? ›

Stations may have to use a compromise design, with a platform curved in a way that will allow a vehicle or train to arrive and depart without mechanical interference, but which leaves unavoidable horizontal and possibly vertical gaps between the cars and the platform edge.

What New York City building opened as a railway station in 1913? ›

Grand Central Terminal was built by and named for the New York Central Railroad; it also served the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and, later, successors to the New York Central. Opened in 1913, the terminal was built on the site of two similarly named predecessor stations, the first of which dated to 1871.

When was the Queen Street Bridge in York built? ›

The Queen Street Bridge was built in 1877 to go over railway tracks which are no longer there. The road will be moved further away from the city walls, improving areas for pedestrians, taxis and buses.

Where is platform 11 at York station? ›

Platforms 5 – 9 are in the middle of the station, with platforms 5 – 8 being under the magnificent roof. Platforms 10 and 11 are on the far side of the station from the main entrance and are outside the main roof.

What is the longest name of a railway station? ›

The record for the longest railway station name, which is 58 letters long, is held by 'Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch' in Wales. The Chennai Central railway station, officially known as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr.

What is the longest train station name in the US? ›

It is through a rich Welsh heritage and a strong connection to Wales that they decided to honor the Remsen Depot Train Station, a stop on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, with the official title of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

What is the biggest train station name in the world? ›

Grand Central Terminal in New York City is the largest station by number of platforms, with 44 on two levels.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 5750

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.