Saunderton Station

click Amenities for others

also click 1913 Saunderton Railway Station Gutted by Fire for the full story of arson.

also click Railway Line at Risborough for photograph building a second line at Princes Risborough

Also see below where Joan West describes using Saunderton Station to send her prize winning bantams to London poultry shows

Unusual Express Stop My drawing illustrates a unique occasion at Saunderton for it is unusual to have an express train stop at this small station. This scene is from the dying days of steam in the late 1950's. The locomotive is 'King George II'. Heading towards the Midlands from London this train was halted at Saunderton because of engineering work on the line ahead. The Politman is about to join the crew of the express for the very slow journey into Princes Risborough. Note, even at this late date, the number of parcels awaiting shipment, also the station staff in attendance.

Saunderton Station

Drawing by Dennis Claydon

Hallmark February 1990. Research by Dennis Claydon

Hard to Imagine

It is hard now to appreciate how the laying of the railway along the Saunderton valley in the latter half of the last century would have affected the lives of those living in the surrounding area. The introduction of the steam train into the countryside which, hitherto, had relied for generations upon "shanks pony" and the horse must have created a complete revolution in travel terms.

The Railway

Work on the railway cutting near Princes Risborough in 1905.

The last steam train on this line. Taken at West Wycombe by Joan West

The Wycombe Railway Company was formed in 1846. By 1854 a line had been constructed from Maidenhead to High Wycombe. Work continued to extend this line via the Saunderton valley and Princes Risborough to Thame. Construction in a broad gauge of seven feet, completion of the Thame extension was achieved in 1862, followed in 1864 with a further extension to Oxford. Around 1870 the ownership of the line passed to the Great Western Railway who converted the track to the national standard gauge of four feet eight and a half inches, still current today..

The Workhouse

The railway line as it divides on approaching Princes Risborough Station at the top of the map from Saunderton.

Several years before the coming of the railway the Wycombe Poor Law Union erected a Workhouse at Saunderton. This building served thirty three parishes, an area of one hundred and forty seven square miles and stood in eleven acres of garden on the site now occupied by Ortho (Cilag Ltd) Pharmaceuticals. In 1885 the guardians of the workhouse considered the close proximity of the railway and decided a station, presumably for the delivery of supplies, would be a great convenience. They approached the railway authorities with their idea but the GWR refused the request. A similar request, or failing that, permission to halt trains on alternate Mondays, followed in 1889. Again the GWR refused believing the proposition to be uneconomical. The building of a Public Institution "five miles from anywhere" was, in the opinion of the GWR, a grave error of judgement on the part of the local authorities.

With the growing importance of the line for express traffic between London and the Midlands business flourished. The dawning of a new century saw the conversion to double track between High Wycombe and Princes Risborough plus the building of a station at Saunderton. The purpose of the station, it was claimed, was not only to serve Saunderton but the surrounding villages of Bledlow Ridge, Lacey Green and Loosley Row and Speen.

In its heyday it certainly played a leading role in village life, presenting a fully-staffed station with a high degree of discipline. Within living memory, before the advent of bus services and with few cars in use, it was the main point of arrival and departure for travellers to Lacey Green and Loosley Row. Situated about two and a half miles from either village the distance would be covered on foot by most villagers but a pony and trap could be hired to transport passengers and luggage. There were those who can still testify to walking daily from Lacey Green in all weathers and seasons, via Church Lane footpath and Smalldean Lane, to catch the train to attend school in High Wycombe. Imagine the uproar at the mere suggestion of such a journey today!!

The station also once boasted of serving the local community with a thriving business in goods traffic. A story is told of a gentleman residing in Lacey Green, over seventy years ago, who ordered some young fruit trees from a distant nursery. In due course he was advised these were awaiting collection at Saunderton Station. The gentleman's son, a reliable and honest fourteen year year old, was sent to collect them. On arrival at the station the lad knocked on the Station Master's Office door, entered and stated the reason for his visit and his intended task. Immediately, the Station Master accusedthe boy of entereing without knocking and despite protests to the contrary the lad received a severe reprimand. The trees were eventually safely delivered to Lacey Green. The following day, however, a visit was made by the Station Master to the boy's father to report the incident!

At least twice in its history the station appears to have attracted national headlines. Once for the part it played in apprehending criminals, also for a devastating fire.

The Burglars It was the discovery of two first class season tickets, issued from this station in its early days, which enabled police to solve a mysterious series of crimes. By chance, after widespread investigations by Scotland Yard regarding a number of burglaries committed throughout London and southern England, two men were Questioned in Surrey. The season tickets in their possession led to the recovery of £250,000 worth of stolen property which had been amassed in their hideaway cottage at Lacey Green. click Malmsmead to learn more.

Fire by the Suffragettes Some years ago I was reliably informed that the station had once been destroyed by fire to draw attention to the Suffrage cause.

Report in the Times. A publication of 1976 "The Suffragettes View" proved the story to be true. Containing a picture of the wrecked station, the book confirmed this was an act of arson in "The Times" dated 11th March 1913. it is recorded that "A large motor car with three women was seen near the station after midnight."

The neighbourhood of Saunderton had been aroused in the early hours of Monday 10th March 1913.

The Bucks Free Press of that week gives a vived and dramatic account of the event with the headline "Railway Station gutted by fire." March 10th  1913.

The neighbourhood of Saunderton was aroused in the early hours of Monday morning by a fire at the Railway Station, which has created widespread interest, chiefly on account that it was the work of militant Suffragettes.

Sunday night was very dark and stormy and owing to the small amount of traffic the Railway Authorities do not keep anyone on duty all night.   The nearest Police Constables are stationed at Bledlow Ridge, Lacey Green & West Wycombe.

When Mr Kitson, the Station Master, left on Sunday all was apparently safe.

Soon after 1.00am on Monday, Mrs Harman who resides in a cottage about 50 yards from the railway bank, was aroused by what she thought to be the sound of hailstones striking against her bedroom window: they were in fact fragments from the burning railway station, carried in the direction of her cottage by the strong wind.

  It was evident that the station had been burning for some time and Mrs Harman at once called Mr Kitson who lives in a house a few yards nearer The Golden Cross.  From the signal box he telephoned for the Princes Risborough & High Wycombe Fire Brigades.

Mr A.G. Smith, a railway packer from Bradenham was also aroused by the barking of his dog and saw the glare of fire.  He roused the nearby ganger and both men were soon on the spot.    The station was said to be like a furnace.

Before the arrival of the Brigades, Mr C.D. Preston, Master of the Workhouse, Saunderton and Mr Jenner the Porter tried to extinguish the flames by the aid of a hand grenade, but the fire was too fierce for the chemicals to have any effect.  Amongst the police officers called to the scene was Constable Cox of Lacey Green.

High Wycombe Fire Brigade was the 1^st on the scene, followed by that of Princes Risborough.    There was not enough water and the nearby pond was soon emptied.   More was obtained from a 1,500 gallon tank in front of the Saunderton Workhouse.   It was eventually brought under control but all that remained was the blackened exterior.   Curiously, the station clock still hung on the wall outside, still going and showing the correct time.

After it had cooled down, the interior was inspected.  The contents of the parcels office were completely destroyed.    All that remained of the safe, including gold, silver and copper coins was a mass of melted metal.

Only the handlebars of the porter’s bicycle were left and the sweet machines and their contents had melted into heaps of burnt sugar and chocolate.

The Bucks Free Press article continues: - "A detailed description of the damage to the building and its contents follows, the climax of the drama then unfolds. As daylight dawned important discoveries were made in the shape of two placards which pointed to the authorship of the outrage. One of those was hanging on the spikes of the iron railings nearest to the "Golden Cross" entrance to the station, and the other was picked up between the railway lines. The placards bore the inscriptions: 'Votes for Women' and 'Burning to get the vote'. Up to this time there had been nothing to arouse suspicion of incendiarism; and this apparent proof that the fire was the work of Suffragettes created a sensation.

More Police Drafted In. In the light of these discoveries the Chief Constable of Bucks was called to the scene, together with extra police from High Wycombe, West Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury and Police Constable Cox of Lacey Green. "A conference was held with two plain clothes officers of the Great Western Railway and, as a result, the debris was searched in the hoped of finding further clues. The search continued for some time but no further discovery was made. The damage is estimated at between £500 and £600".

Picton's Grocers takes an Opportunity. A rather unusual advertisement appears in the same issue. It reads: - "Saunderton Station Fire. Advice to Government re Suffragettes. Don't forcibly feed, but give them Picton's bacon and eggs. They'll offer no resistance. B.H. Picton's Stores, Desborough Road, High Wycombe." (Benny Picton was a well-colourful Wycombe personality with, for that age, a large grocer's shop on the corner of Desborough Road and Bridge Street).

Update 1990. Today, Saunderton still caters for its daily band of commuters to the capital, gone, however, are the station staff and goods traffic. The importance of the line has slowly declined over the years until the building now shudders only to the thunder of one 'Intercity' express per day. Nevertheless, change is once again taking place, with the introduction of new signalling to serve the travellers of the 1990's

Author's "Thanks". The kind assistance given by Mrs. B. Oxley, County County Reference Library, Mr. A Randall, Saunderton Lea and Mr, F.W. Gomme, Princes Risborough, in the preparation of this article is acknowledged with thanks.

Saunderton Station, I later discovered, had been opened in 1901. The times I have recalled here were from 1946 to 1951. The station was closed in the 1980s. Now, in 2023, a few trains still stop there, but the station is unmanned.

by Joan West

Special memories are etched on my mind of dark winter evening visits in the 1940s to Saunderton Staion.

My Hobby. As a young girl my father had encouraged me to keep bantams as a hobby. I didn't realise, at that point, that his father, who was a railway superintendant, had kept poultry too. I now think that although officially my birds, there was a nostalgic interest for my father in encouraging me.

National Competitions. When the National Poultry Shows in London recommenced at Earls Court and Olympia after WW2, my birds would be entered in the competitions.

My Best Breeds. I had several breeds - Seabrights, both silver and gold. Pekins, both black and white, and Silkies (which some class as a chicken), were my best ones.

The Preparation. The evening before the show the birds would be cleaned, from head and body to claw. The Silkies were shampooed with the very best shampoo and dried with the hair drier, fluffing all up by hand. Silkies do not have normal feathers, they look just like a ball of fluff with just a few wing feathers, and their comb, wattles and skin are dark blue. They were then put in crates with two compartments, put in the car and off to Saunderton Station.

Dark Winter Evening, Saunderton. The Station Master, Mr Day, would meet us. There was an round stove. It seemed a haven after the dark and cold outside. Mr Day had recovered after suffering burns, from a hit on the signal box at High Wycombe during the war. I don't know what other help he got in the daytime, but at night he seemed to do everything including changing the signals. He lived in a house nearby.

The Birds' Journey. We left the birds in their crates with Mr Day. He put them on the train to London in the Guards Van, handing them over to the Guard. In London they were delivered to the show venue. There they were taken from the travelling crates, put in their show pens, fed and watered. Judging took place in the morning. We would arrive in the afternoon to see how they got on. It just seemed so magical and easy.

Awards. My father must have known what he was doing, for I always seemed to win something, and they were large classes. Not always first, but many seconds and thirds.

Champions. My birds won several national silver trophies over the years. One year I won three. Not only was that amazing, but inscribed on one of them was 'H R Gillingwater', my grandfather. Well, Dad, I think that explains quite a lot !!