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Wemyss Bay Station, Inverclyde

An attractive and effective 1903 facility, by the Caledonian Railway, for the rapid trans-shipment of holiday-makers and their luggage.


Region:
Renfrewshire
Red Wheel Site:
Yes
Transport Mode(s):
Rail, Water
Address:

Wemyss Bay Station,

Wemyss Bay

Inverclyde

 

Postcode:
PA18 6AR
Visitor Centre:
Yes
Website:

About Wemyss Bay Station, Inverclyde

Scotland’s third Red Wheel was unveiled in brilliant sunshine on Friday 29 November at Wemyss Bay Station, the beautiful Edwardian interchange designed by James Miller between the train from Glasgow and the ferry to Rothesay which featured on the front cover of Simon Jenkins’ book about Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations. 

The unveiling was performed by Professor Gordon Masterton OBE DL, a Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers whose HQ building in London incidentally was also designed by Miller. Gordon hailed Wemyss Bay Station as a transport icon in a style the impossibility of whose classification was surely its unique charm. He cited Jenkins as having written that it had variously been called domestic revival, Queen Anne, arts-and-crafts and “chalet” but with also a touch of Los Angeles Spanish, perhaps under Caledonian Railway engineer Donald Matheson’s American influence which was reflected also in architect James Miller’s inclusion of theories about passenger circulation. His use of curved walls enabled people to travel along the line of least resistance, maximising throughput.
Thirty guests who attended the unveiling enjoyed a tour beforehand by Greg Beecroft, chair of the Friends of Wemyss Bay Station who pointed to improvements made by the Friends during their first ten years. 
The Trust ackloweledges the following account, images of the station and its history come by from the website of "Friends of Wemyss Bay Station" who have re-commenced the wonderful flower displays as shown here:
Flower display provided by The Friends of Wemyss Bay Station
 
 

The Wemyss Bay railway line was opened in 1865 and the service was advertised as being superior to the line which served Greenock, as all of the carriages contained seats! The journey to Glasgow took just over an hour with a First Class return costing about 3/6 (about 22p) and Third Class 2/- (10p). Five years later (1870) the first steamer service to be run in association with the railway was started.

In the 19th century steam power had revolutionised public transport, and enabled everyone, from all levels of society, to move about the country. Before the opening of the railways, steamboats were the fastest means of transport; for example the journey from Largs to Glasgow by boat took five hours and cost 7/6d cabin fare single.   The arrival of the railway line at Wemyss Bay reduced that journey to an hour and a half, for the all-in fare of 2/7d.

The front of the first station building of 1865, shortly before its demolition in 1903. The roof of the train shed has been dismantled. A service was maintained throughout the building of the new station. 

The front of the first station building of 1865, shortly before its demolition in 1903. The roof of the train shed has been dismantled. A service was maintained throughout the building of the new station.

The first station was built in 1865, with two platforms, and two steamer berths at the pier. It was a handsome Victorian villa-style building, designed to complement the large private homes which were being built, mainly in Skelmorlie but also in the developing Wemyss Bay. These were the holiday homes of wealthy Glasgow businessmen and industrialists, whose families and servants moved down to the fresh air of the coast for the summer, while father would commute to town by train without difficulty. So, although perhaps plain, it was really quite a handsome building that certainly did not “lower the tone” of the surrounding district!

The Development of Wemyss Bay Station.
The popularity of holidays on the Clyde Coast became so great that the Caledonian Railway Company had to plan for considerable extension of facilities and a new “double” line was opened in 1903. This was followed by the very handsome Edwardian style station which we enjoy today.

The present station and much improved pier were built on ground reclaimed from the sea, doubling the number of platforms and steamer berths of the previous structures. It was built within a year, while passenger services continued to operate from the old station.

At this time Wemyss Bay Pier provided ferry services to Largs, Millport, Arran, Innellan, Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute, Ardrishaig, and others. The number of passengers trying to get between train and boat led to frequent missed connections, not to mention physical discomfort in poor weather. The new station was designed with all this in mind, its most significant feature being its elaborate glazed canopies and roof, providing protection from the rain between train and boat, and also the much shorter walk between platform and pier.

01a-1903 frontage 

The Station Frontage in 1903, designed by James Miller, Architect, and Donald Matheson, Chief Engineer of the Caledonian Railway Company

08f- Wemyss Bay PierSteamers25(78)

Aerial photo of steamers at Wemyss Bay pier

The new complex became one of the showpieces of Scottish railways. It was dominated by the impressive sixty-foot Clock Tower, and was built in Queen Anne style, half-timbered and roughcast with sandstone facing. The large, circular glass-roofed interior became renowned for its outstanding displays of potted plants and hanging baskets, although sadly these embellishments were discontinued probably by the late 1970s or 80s.

An Edwardian masterpiece, it was the first of the Caledonian Railway Company’s Clyde railway piers to be built, and is now the only one remaining. It well deserves its Grade-A architectural listing, with its sinuous, graceful curves, and elegant glass canopies, still protecting passengers coming off the trains and heading down for the boat connection to Rothesay on the beautiful Isle of Bute.

Then it catered for crowds of holidaymakers escaping from the grime of industrial Glasgow by having a day ‘doon the watter’. Now the visitors are fewer in number, but the affection for the sail to Rothesay continues.

Contained within the station were the ticket office, parcels office,station bar, refreshment room, waiting rooms and various kiosks.

05m- Wemyss Bay Stationflowers1(34)

An early photograph of the station concourse, showing the lavish and greatly admired floral dispalys

Early view looking north 

Early view looking north

 

 

National Transport Trust, Old Bank House, 26 Station Approach, Hinchley Wood, Esher, Surrey KT10 0SR