Built 150 years ago in 1875 for the opening of the Ryde to Newport Railway, reduced to an unmanned halt in 1953 and sold into private ownership in 1968 when the line closed, Ashey Station has gradually disappeared in private ownership behind the trees and hedges.
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s trains returned with the reopening of the line through Ashey in 1991 but passing the original station buildings and grounds and only stopping across the track. The original buildings have remained relatively untouched, with modifications in private ownership being relatively minor.
The hope of acquiring the original station buildings was set out in the railway’s first ‘strategic Vision’ published in 2009. Fast forward to February 2024 and the time felt right to let the Holbrook family, owners of the station since 1980, know of our continued interest should they ever decide to sell.
Today, we are delighted to announce that, 57 years after being sold by British Railways, Ashey Station is back in Railway ownership.
We are immensely grateful to the Holbrook family for their willingness to enter into exclusive negotiations and a sale directly to us. We have acquired the full station grounds, the station buildings and land to the North.
PHASES
To fully restore the platform, return the buildings to period condition and bring them up to a standard in which they can be utilised we estimate will cost in the region of a further £550,000.
Reinstatement of the passing loop and potentially other features on the down line would be further phases and are not included in this estimate.
· Phase One – the purchase of the Station grounds and buildings has been achieved.
· Phase Two – will return the station to 1926 Southern Railway period condition externally, restore the public rooms, and allow us to achieve an income from the remainder of the property from holiday letting. This is now our priority, but we expect phase two to take up to two years, with much research, planning and statutory approvals required before we can start the renovations.
We need your help no matter how small – every single penny will go into our work to return Ashey Station to its 1926 appearance, fully restored and protected for the future.
