Contribution made to preserve railway heritage

A significant contribution has been made to support the preservation of local railway heritage, helping a community group bring new life to a piece of the region’s history.

Housebuilder Story Homes has donated £15,000 to the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway to fund heritage interpretation boards and the restoration of a former waiting room along the railway line. 

The Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway was founded in 2013 and is dedicated to preserving and promoting the railway line, which operated from 1825 to 1863. It was here, on 27 September 1825, that Locomotion No. 1 ran from Darlington to Stockton and carried 450 people at a speed of 15 miles per hour, making the S&DR the world's first public passenger railway.

The funding, linked to Story Homes’ developments in Middleton St George, will aid in safeguarding the railway’s legacy as it approaches its 200th anniversary next year.

Niall Hammond, chair of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, said: “The Friends of the S&DR warmly welcome this funding from Story Homes, facilitated by Darlington Borough Council.

“With less than a year to go until the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, support such as this is key to helping our wonderful volunteers continue to conserve and manage important sites such as the former Fighting Cocks station.”

The donation includes £10,000 from the upcoming Ashwood Grange development, which was given ahead of schedule to allow the group to prepare for the bicentenary celebrations. 

Richard Swann, North East Planning Manager at Story Homes, added: “We were delighted to provide a financial contribution to Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and support this local organisation in their bid to restore part of the former railway.

“Helping to enhance the heritage of the areas in which we build is very important to us and we look forward to seeing the funding being used to benefit residents in the area.”

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