A train station serving hundreds of thousands of people each year is set to benefit from a half-million-pound restoration project.
Crowthorne station was founded as Wellington College for Crowthorne station in 1859. It was renamed Crowthorne in 1928 and is on the Great Western Railway North Downs Line, with trains running between Reading and Guildford.
Now, after a sustained campaign by councillor Peter Wood, chairman of Crowthorne parish council, with support from councillor Tina McKenzie-Boyle and Crowthorne Village Action group, it has been confirmed that £500,000 has been allocated for the restoration of the station.
A post by the parish council stated: “The historical building is managed by the Arch Company on behalf of Network Rail, who are responsible for leasing it out to commercial occupants.
“The company has been sympathetic to the need for conservation throughout.
“The station building was built in 1861 with funding from Wellington College and was named ‘Wellington College for Crowthorne’ until the 1920’s.
“Originally it had accommodation upstairs for a Station Master and his family.
“The building was reroofed following closure of the booking office and conversion for commercial letting.
“The station building has been unoccupied for the last eight years and during that time has sadly deteriorated both internally and externally.
“No details are available at present of the nature of the planned works, although it is intended to eventually be available for lease by two or three businesses.
“Hopefully, we will see work commence in the very near future.”
