Shropshire Star

Bridgnorth Cliff Railway to close as station set for first facelift in100 years

Bridgnorth's cliff railway will be closed for four days next week as major conservation work is carried out.

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The work will see the facade of the attraction's bottom station upgraded for the first time in more than 100 years.

Philip Belchere, an architect with Shropshire Council, will oversee the work, which will be carried out by Stuart Preece & Sons of Ludlow.

Directors of the cliff railway say the work be in line with the original facade, which was built in 1897.

Lime putty mortar will be used and existing brick and stone will be replaced with matching materials.

The station, which remains England's oldest inland funicular railway, will be closed from Monday reopening on Friday.

Stuart Preece, Dr Malvern Tipping and Chris Preece

Dr Malvern Tipping, chairman of the cliff railway, said: "We are delighted Stuart Preece & Sons, with their proven track record of historic building conservation work, have been awarded the contract.

"We are very excited about having this work done and very much look forward to the restoration of this iconic gateway to the town.

"In the meantime, we apologise for any inconvenience caused by necessary closures during the building work.

"However, I am sure our passengers will be delighted when they see the outcome of the work."

The cliff railway buildings were designed by the railway's founder and first managing director, George Croydon Marks, in 1891. Marks, who was an engineer and not an architect, designed the buildings, which were reflective of the arts and crafts movement.

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