Tavistock Station and Viaduct
Tavistock North was a railway station built for the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway which formed part of the Exeter to Plymouth railway of the LSWR. Following the 1923 grouping the line passed to the Southern Railway and finally British Railways Southern Region on nationalisation in 1948. The line and station was briefly operated by British Railways Western Region for around four years prior to closure.
Tavistock North served the Dartmoor stannary town of Tavistock. The station opened on 2 June 1890 and closed on 6 May 1968. The main station building has been completely restored by its current owners and converted into 3 luxury self-catering cottages and has been awarded 5 stars by Visit Britain. The Station Master's house is being restored to a private dwelling, while the extensive goods yard is now known as Kilworthy Park and houses the offices of West Devon Borough Council. The trackbed for around a mile south of Tavistock North station is open to the public as a footpath and nature reserve, and it is possible to walk across the viaducts that overlook the town.
Following the breaching of the Dawlish Sea wall in the winter of 2014 and the severing of the Great Western mainline between Exeter and Plymouth it has been suggested that the railway between Bere Alston and Meldon should be reopened restoring an alternative route to Plymouth. Whilst plans are being developed to reopen Bere Alston to a new station at Tavistock reopening through Tavistock North would require the demolition of some houses and the West Devon Borough Council offices.
Read MoreTavistock North served the Dartmoor stannary town of Tavistock. The station opened on 2 June 1890 and closed on 6 May 1968. The main station building has been completely restored by its current owners and converted into 3 luxury self-catering cottages and has been awarded 5 stars by Visit Britain. The Station Master's house is being restored to a private dwelling, while the extensive goods yard is now known as Kilworthy Park and houses the offices of West Devon Borough Council. The trackbed for around a mile south of Tavistock North station is open to the public as a footpath and nature reserve, and it is possible to walk across the viaducts that overlook the town.
Following the breaching of the Dawlish Sea wall in the winter of 2014 and the severing of the Great Western mainline between Exeter and Plymouth it has been suggested that the railway between Bere Alston and Meldon should be reopened restoring an alternative route to Plymouth. Whilst plans are being developed to reopen Bere Alston to a new station at Tavistock reopening through Tavistock North would require the demolition of some houses and the West Devon Borough Council offices.
