Abandoned Gloucester to Ledbury railway

This week return to our favourite subject, disused and abandoned railways. This one ran between Gloucester and Ledbury via Newent and was dubbed 'The Daffodil Line' carrying vast quantities of the flowers in the season. It was opened in 1885 after the usual financial ranglings which saw them eventually seeking help from the Great Western Railway which of course sealed their fate at a very early stage.
This is one of those situations where having driven past this railway infrastructure so many times, I didn't see it any more. Until I started research for this film
The line was built largely over the Gloucester to Hereford canal which it therefore replaced. On this journey we encounter some wonderful finds, from almost intact stations, to plans to flood part of another station and sail boats on it returning it to canal once more whilst keeping the railway station infrastructure. Weird.
The line closed n 1964 with all the others culled by Dr Beaching.

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Excellent as always.
I immediately recognised the remains of the bridge at Newent in your opening shot - I always admire it when I drive through the town.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

There are plans to convert the station into a canal!!!! Go figure. Ron

[@deandaniels203]

Hi Mr Parkinson, I just wanted to say how watching your films on the railway walks have inspired me to do the same. I have always been interested in abandoned lines around the Worcester area and I think walking the unused lines leaves your mind open to the imagination. Thank you for opening my eyes.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Careful Dean, once you are bitten by the bug it's hard to stop grovelling around in every patch of undergrowth you see. P.W.

[@donniblanco5239]

Many “Old World” Structures in Ledbury - Fascinating if you have the Eyes to See 👀

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

What is life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare. Ron

[@susanhill8332]

My husband remembers getting on the train adjacent to Ledbury recreation ground to take you to Gloucester. Just a platform and not a station. Certainly a trip down memory lane

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

We love memories on this channel Susan, thanks for posting. Ron

[@angelsone-five7912]

Well that skew bridge really was something else, very impressive. A shame about the station building and its footbridge though.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

The skew bridge is only for pedestrians these days, and I worry that when it needs attention, it will be taken down and replaced with something 'economical'. P.W.

[@michaelpilling9659]

Magnificent bridge at Ledbury. How clever to feed the railway right through the town. A lovely walk. Newent Railway Station as a canal? Really? Superb film.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

They have started work on the railway/canal. Watch this space. P.W.

[@greatwesternrailwayadventures]

If I remember correctly most of this line was built on the old ledbury to Gloucester canal so a-bit of historical irony i suppose turning the station in to part of the canal system.

[@johnsparkes8963]

Another enjoyable video, shame its all gone.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks John. I agree its a shame. P.W.

[@airgunzel4430]

Thankyou for covering the story of another canal and its demise. More so as it morphed into a railway which then also closed but this time morphing back into a canal but using railway infrastructure WTF..? Great story and a wonderful, insightful video. Keep them coming Mr Parkinson.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks for the comment, I still can't get my head around a station with boats. P.W.

[@grahamx8623]

It gets stranger. There used to be a similar set of railway bridge abutments about half a mile away from the Newent pair. The canal restoration people demolished them recently and used the stone to re-build either the aqueduct or lock close by. Some of the stone appeared to have originated from the locks as it had been worked to house the lock gates, presumably the railway builders re-purposing what was close to hand. Earliest recorded case of recycling?

[@chrismccartney8668]

Superb country corridor into town...

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Because of the tall vegetation it is sometimes hard to believe you are in a built up area. Perfect really. P.W.

[@railwaychristina3192]

Abutments make me sad.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Christina, I guess they do when that is all that is left of a once thriving railway. Ron

[@chrismccartney8668]

When you mention reduced to rubble
Some would say it is high quality Rubble as many of the stones and bricks are of a quality we only dream of now years ago in east ham east London they knocked down pumping station for water it was all London Brick very hard bricks and so overnight someone broke in stole the lot as those bricks in high demand by restoration companies...

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Ha Wonderful. P.W.

[@ghostsgiggles5071]

It was originally a canal then it was the railway, so they want to put it back into a canal again.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

The railway should reappear in about 100 years. PW

[@MarkAtkin]

14:05. Why would you want access down there? Here's your answer. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledbury_Town_Halt_railway_station . (I didn't know either. I had to look it up.)

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Mark, great stuff. Ron

[@a11csc]

is the blue brick bridge a listed building if not it should be

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

I don't think so Chris and it would be very expensive if it needed repair, I fancy they would just replace it, but it looks in good nick for now.P.W.

[@danielshakesheff2223]

they should of kept it

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Agreed Daniel.