The scaffolding covering the Cambrian Station Building in Oswestry is being taken down, slowly unveiling a beautifully restored building for everyone to enjoy.
The scaffolding has covered the building for the last year, enabling essential and extensive repairs to address safety concerns and keep the historic site safe and sound.
The new roof and restored corbels will soon be visible to all.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Shropshire Council, the work which has been completed by craftsmen from local building conservation specialists Phillips and Curry Ltd. has included fixing and restoring the building’s exterior to prevent falling masonry (some of which has been captured by the scaffolding which surrounds the building), removing dangerous asbestos tiles and replacing them with Welsh slate, as well as giving windows and doors a fresh coat of Cambrian Railway colours.
The work has also included installing nesting boxes for swifts under the eaves as well as bat roosting tiles along the roof.
The Cambrian Station Building, a Grade 2 listed property belonging to Shropshire Council, boasts a rich history that stretches back to the mid-1860s. Once serving as the local railway station and the Cambrian Railway headquarters, it was key in connecting Oswestry and North Wales. Though still used seasonally by the Cambrian Heritage Railway, the building now needs major investment to stay safe and functional.
Further structural work is required to the interior of the building which is being planned for 2025 subject to further grant funding being available. In the meantime, the Cambrian Heritage Railways will be starting their summer programme at Easter.
Peter Gilbertson, Shropshire Council’s senior project management officer, said:
“We’re so pleased that the scaffolding is finally coming down, and in time for Easter.
“This building holds significant cultural value for our community, and these essential repairs ensure it remains safe and usable for future generations.
“Since taking on the ownership of the building in 2023 lots of progress has been made. Whilst the scaffolding was in place we made some of the more fragile parts of the building safe, while retaining and reinstating its historic features where necessary.
“If you’re in and around Oswestry over the Easter break, please go and take a look. It really is a beautiful building and we’re proud to be involved in securing its future.”
To find out what’s going on at the Cambrian Station Building over Easter, people can visit: https://cambrianrailways.com/
