Repair work proposed for decaying Victorian Shrewsbury signal box staircase

Network Rail is proposing repairs to part of one of Shrewsbury’s historic Victorian-era signal boxes.

The firm has applied to Shropshire Council for listed building consent to replace the staircase belonging to Shrewsbury Railway Station’s Crew Junction signal box.

The historic structure is of the same design as the famous Severn Junction Signal Box, which is the largest operational signal box in Europe, with 180 levers and block instruments.

The Grade II listed Crewe Junction box backs onto Chester Street as part of the town’s station gyratory, to the north of the railway station, which is also has listed status.

The listing of both the station and the signal box is due to their value as surviving examples as structures of the London and North Western and Great Western Railway.

The Crewe Junction Box is still operational and very much part of the working railway, housing two Network Rail staff, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The proposal is to replace the staircase on the building.

A design and access statement says: “The current timber staircase has been subject to weathering which has delaminated the painted coating and therefore resulted in wet rot fungal decay to the staircase. Renewal is therefore required to assure structural integrity.”

Earlier it explained the plan, saying the existing staircase will be removed and the arrangement will be reconfigured with new balustrading and guarding.

The first floor landing will also be extended to “connect with and capture the adjacent elevated walkway serving the signal box entrance”.

The work will also see the creation of a new concrete hardstanding and walkway at ground level connected to the existing concrete pathway network.

The design and access statement says: “The existing staircase, which provides access from ground level to the first-floor operating accommodation, will be removed and replaced with a new staircase located in the same position and albeit reconfigured, to perform the same operational function.

“The revised arrangement will include a larger landing connecting with the existing walkways around the signal box, providing safer and more suitable operational access.

“Associated foundations, handrails and supporting elements will also be renewed as part of the works.”

The signal box was originally constructed jointly by the GWR/LNWR after the completion of improvements to their jointly owned Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway.

The design statement says: “Jointly constructed from 1902 and completed in 1903 to an enlarged standard LNWR design of 1876, the three-storey structure is built of two storeys of red brick and cement, with a third floor mainly of wooden weather board pin-panel containing the glass windows, all topped by a Welsh slate pitched roof.

“Access is via a door on the rear, with the lower two floors housing interlocking signalling equipment accessed via two internal wooden staircases.

“The main operational floor houses a 180-lever interlocked frame, divided into two sections: Abbey Foregate to Sutton Bridge; Shrewsbury station to Crewe Junction.”

Requesting permission for the work the statement adds: “The proposals have been developed with a full understanding of the significance of Crewe Junction Signal Box.

“Although the works require the removal of some historic fabric, the optioneering established that the existing staircase and trestle are in poor condition, have exceeded their design life and cannot be reused to provide the required safe and operationally suitable access arrangement.

“Localised repair or partial reuse would retain underlying defects and result in further maintenance and intervention.

“The preferred scheme therefore represents a necessary and proportionate response, using sensitive design and detailing to preserve the overall character and significance of the listed building while securing its continued operational use and long-term conservation.”

A decision on the plan will be taken at a later date.