Padgate Station turns 150 years old during service

The station, which is off Station Road South, has been in service since 1873, and was declared as a listed building in December 1963.

Padgate Station has benefited from the love and care given by members of Longbarn Residents' Association, which unveiled a commemorative plaque at the station on September 1.

The plaque was unveiled on Friday, September 1 (Image: Newsquest)

Though unstaffed, the station still provides links between Warrington and Manchester, along with services to Liverpool as well.

The Longbarn Residents' Association began caring for the station when the Friends of Padgate Station was formed in 2015.

Since then, the group has undertaken various litter picks at the site, as well as spending many devoted hours ensuring that the station does not become 'an embarrassment to us all.'

Rob McLaughlan, a member of Longbarn Residents' Association, spoke at the event, saying: "150 years ago today this station was opened - Padgate didn't actually exist until just before the station was here; it was farmland in 1838, and the village began in 1840."

The railway cottages were built in 1850, some 23 years before the station opened, in order to accommodate railway staff, and the station was declared open on September 1, 1873.

Residents flocked to the station for the unveiling of the commemorative plaque (Image: Newsquest)

Rob elaborated upon the history of the station, highlighting some famous faces who lived in the area during the Second World War, as part of the RAF camp and training centre.

Familiar names included the likes of the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman, beloved entertainer Bruce Forsyth, and comedian Bob Monkhouse.

It was also discussed that the station has an ethereal past, with two spirits being exorcised from the premises in years gone by.

Rob McLaughlan said a few words, and the plaque was uncovered by Simon Abbott, from Northern (Image: Newsquest)

A plaque was unveiled by the Friends of Padgate Station, alongside Simon Abbott - community and sustainability manager for Northern, which manages the station.

It was said at the event that footfall at the station has grown by 233 per cent in the past decade - with the last year before the Covid-19 pandemic accounting for 130,000 fare-paying passengers.

The community heard the history of the station, and celebrated the work of the volunteers in the station's upkeep (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian at the commemorative event, residents' association trustee Howard Klein said: "We are pleased with the growth of the use of this station, and we hope that it won't be too long until Sunday trains stop at it.

"We hope that its use will continue to grow."

Another commuter added: "I don't use the station that often anymore due to the reduced services, but it still gives brilliant links to Manchester and Liverpool, and it's great to see the station get the attention it deserves."