About

Over the last five years I have been privileged to lead a group of NYMR members and staff in developing a scheme for Pickering Station for submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund. In the earlier days we had to come to terms with all the various conditions for Lottery funding and how they fitted into our aspirations. This was not an easy task. Quite early on with the help of outside advice we recognised that some external funding could be forthcoming from one of the Yorkshire Forward programmes but here again there would be conditions attached. In many ways this was a journey from a small branch line station to the capital with a pot of gold at the end. There were many changes of directions and trains to get you there successfully and sometimes we took the wrong directions and ended up at the wrong destination. There are many people who have made the journey possible some whom have sadly passed away.

After some false hope in 2007 when we actually produced a lottery application only for us to withdraw it late in the assessment progress, we spent many hours honing the project and writing reams of documents to support our plans   and eventually on 31st March 2008 we were able to put in, what we thought, was a good application. As a part of this we had already received support for the Learning Centre from Yorkshire Forward by a grant of £125k. The Project team sat back, awaited response, and in July we received the first official communication asking for clarification. July and August became a hectic period with meetings, refining aspects of the bid and having two face to face meetings with HLF officials and their board members. When we had done all that was possible we had to wait for a decision to be made.

It was clear that the bid was of a good standard but we were asking for close to £1million and there were a lot of applications being considered, and less money in the Lottery coffers due to the Olympics. Had we done enough? Were there flaws in the bid? What about those deep questions concerning our ability to deliver and the structure of the organisation? We knew that September 15th was D Day but the results would not be given to us until the next day. At about 10.30am we were contacted by HLF giving us the great news that we had been successful and had been allocated all that we requested.

So what are we getting?
The project is to develop Pickering Station at a cost of £1.69million and we have been successful in being awarded £998,000 from the Lottery and a further £206,622   from Yorkshire Forward. This means that when taking into account our volunteer contributions of £92k we shall need to find approximately £400,000. We have earmarked recently received bequests and the NYMR will have to find the remainder  from its hard pressed reserves and capital expenditure.

Pickering Station is a Grade II listed building and is a fine example of early railway architecture situated within a Conservation Area.  The North York Moors line that it once served is nationally significant as it is one of the earliest railways and has connections to some of the leading engineers of the day.  The programme of conservation works will return the station to its original appearance in the period 1845–1952.  The station roof will be built to the original design, the only example of a roof architecturally designed by G.T. Andrews over a current steam railway. It will also stabilise the two train shed walls by linking them together as originally designed and prevent weathering. The beck wall supporting the area behind Platform 2 has deteriorated due to weathering.  This will be renovated so that it can support the planned development. Restoration work will be undertaken to the outer face of the western train shed wall on Platform 2 and the deteriorating brickwork of the former Pump House will be conserved.

There is currently little information about the history of this site but restoration works will create a host of opportunities for visitors to learn more.  A new covered area over the tracks and Platform 2 will be created, where historical exhibitions and events will be staged.  Meanwhile, the restoration and extension of the disused Pump House will allow the creation of a Visitor Centre featuring the history of Pickering Station and the railway.
A heritage signal box at the southern end of Platform 2 will be reconstructed based on original drawings, giving visitors the chance to try out heritage signaling apparatus themselves.

Schools will be offered a curriculum based educational programme at a new Learning Centre based upon the themes of how steam engines work, Victorian Railways, Wartime Evacuation Experience, the history of rail transport, how signal systems work and rail architecture. This will be undertaken by a group of volunteers supported by a  Learning and Young Volunteer Officer funded partly by Lottery. Visitors who want to learn even more will soon have the chance to explore the extensive Grade II listed archive collection of North Yorks Moors Historical Railway Trust. The site’s team of dedicated volunteers will be expanded with new volunteering opportunities including giving guided tours.  Training opportunities will be developed for young people to help them to learn craft based vocational skills.

Now the major task is to put this plan into action. When you read this article work will already have commenced on the Learning Centre at the rear of the station. The timetable of work is for completion in autumn of 2012.
Your help is welcome to make this a success. How? In many ways as follows:-

  • Why not give some time as a volunteer to assist in the project, painting and decorating, labouring, landscaping grounds and various other tasks.
  • Fund raising to achieve our financial share of the project. Small or large sums are very welcome. Why not join the small team dreaming up various projects to involve people in fun activities as well as raising money?
  • Make a donation through Gift Aid.
  • Organise publicity of the project in your own area to attract funds.
  • Run your own fund raising activity in your own area.

This is a wonderful opportunity and we recognise that in the economic current climate it is a challenge for the railway so every little helps.

Please contact me at Pickering Station if you can make a contribution to this project.

Bryan M Draper, Chairman of the Lottery Project Team & Company Secretary.

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