Wanborough station

Image: © Ron Strutt Taken: 29 Sep 2005

Wanborough station was built by the London & South Western Railway in 1891 on its line from Guildford to Farnham. Despite a few modern intrusions, not least the footbridge on which the photographer was standing, it still has the air of a real country station, even though it has been unstaffed since the late 1980s. Fortunately the stationmaster's house and the main station building were acquired by a construction company, who have maintained them beautifully. The station is not, in fact, in Wanborough. It was built at the behest of Sir Algernon West, Gladstone's private secretary, who lived at Wanborough Manor and felt that a station would be useful for his visitors. Part of the land needed was given by the Wanborough Estate on condition that the station should always be known as Wanborough, whereas it is actually situated in the parish of Normandy. But how much more delightful it would have been if it had been named after the nearest local settlement, Christmas Pie!

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