Published on: Monday, 15 October 2018
Last updated: Monday, 15 October 2018
Images of three new sets of doors being constructed for Lowestoft Railway Station have been released as work continues to restore parts of the iconic building along with the creation of a new public exhibition space.
Craftsmen from Oulton Broad based joinery company, MS Oakes are currently building three sets of arched doors having removed the badly corroded originals during the summer. Once replaced, station entrances closed for over a quarter of a century will be brought back into regular use, significantly improving connections to the town centre.
At over 8ft high, each set of doors were originally thought to have been of a slightly different pattern however on stripping these back it was found that they were indeed identical but had been modified over the years. Although too badly decayed to be restored, the original design is being carefully replicated and on completion the doors will be finished in dark green, complimenting the Great Eastern Railway heritage painting scheme recently introduced across the site.
This latest phase of works has been commissioned by the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership in conjunction with train operator Greater Anglia with principle funding for the scheme obtained from the Railway Heritage Trust, the Department for Transport’s Designated Community Railway Development Fund and both the East Suffolk Lines and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnerships.
Work to restore the former station Parcels Office enters its next phase later this month as work begins to convert the building into a new public exhibition space able to host a variety of events and activities. The Victorian concourse recently saw the installation of new lighting, designed to be more in keeping with the sites’ heritage.
Martin Halliday, Community Rail Development Officer said; “We are delighted that our plans to regenerate major parts of the station continue to progress, it was important for the project to work with local craftsmen and we are extremely pleased with progress so far. Once the doors are complete it will enable the re-opening of the doorways facing Station Square, a major factor in re-engaging the wider station site with the town centre.
Lowestoft Railway Station dates back to the 1840s and is the most easterly on the entire UK rail network.