A SPECIAL speaker took Ledbury Rotarians on a trip back in time during a talk on the construction of the Worcester and Hereford railway lines.
Gordon Wood led the event and spoke about the opening of the railway which was done in stages between 1859 and 1861, with the final section between Malvern Wells to Shelwick Junction in Hereford opened on September 17, 1861.
A rail link between Worcester and Hereford was first suggested in the early 1850s, when the need arose to link the industries of Birmingham and the Black Country with the coalfields of South Wales.
But, Malvern and Ledbury residents were unhappy because they wanted a main line to go through their towns so begun a campaign calling on merchants and bankers to give their influential and financial support. The lobbying was successful and work started in 1856.
Rotarian Jan Long said: “Gordon illustrated his presentation with wonderful pictures of the grand old steam engines, the beautiful decorative iron and metal work on bridges and railway stations which still exist.
“He encouraged people to take a closer look at these wonderful designs when they next use their local railway. “
